Four dead, 1,300 evacuated as heavy rain drenches country

South Korea’s raised the weather-related catastrophe alert to its highest stage

Reuters A man, hunched over and holding a polka-dotted umbrella, makes his way through a flooded street, caused by torrential rain, in Gwangju, South Korea on 17 July, 2025. A row of vehicles are parked on the left of the street. The floodwaters have submerged parts of the vehicles' wheels. — South Korea’s raised the weather-related catastrophe alert to its highest stage

4 individuals have died and greater than 1,300 evacuated as torrential rain kilos South Korea, with authorities warning that the unseasonal deluge will proceed.

Amongst these killed had been two males of their 80s. Authorities consider one among them was attempting to empty floodwaters from the basement of his house.

A 3rd sufferer was crushed when a wall collapsed onto his automobile. Moments earlier than, he’d known as his spouse to say the automobile was “being swept away”, authorities say. The fourth sufferer died of a cardiac arrest.

“I could not perceive how one thing like this might occur,” says Kim Ha-min, a restaurant proprietor within the metropolis of Gwangju. She says that is the primary time she has skilled such heavy rain.

Rescuers evacuated greater than 1,300 individuals as of 16:00 native time on Thursday

Reuters Firefighters on a rescue boat navigating through a flooded neighbourhood caused by torrential rain in Daegu, South Korea. Cars are parked along the street and some furniture, including swivel chairs, can be seen floating in the floodwaters. — Rescuers evacuated greater than 1,300 individuals as of 16:00 native time on Thursday

Scenes from Gongju within the central a part of the nation South Korea

Reuters An electric pole leans over on a damaged road in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, central South Korea, on 17 July — Scenes from Gongju within the central a part of the nation South Korea

The report rainfall has prompted South Korea’s authorities to boost the weather-related catastrophe alert to its highest stage.

“Every part is roofed by water besides the roof [of my house],” a resident in one of many affected areas wrote on-line.

Greater than 400mm of rain poured down in simply half a day in Seosan, the worst-affected metropolis, alongside the nation’s west coast – the climate company described it as a once-in-a-century occasion.

Photographs and movies on social media present autos and houses submerged, with items of furnishings floating within the water.

Ms Kim in Gwangju, which recorded 426mm of rainfall on Thursday, stated she was scared as a result of “I’ve by no means seen a flood right here earlier than, since there isn’t a stream or river on this neighbourhood”.

The 26-year-old needed to shut her cafe after it was inundated by floodwaters: “I drained the water, however the scent from the sewers is so dangerous that I am unable to open for enterprise.”

Floodwaters have inundated the bathroom in Kim Ha-min’s cafe in Gwangju

Kim Ha-min Floodwaters have inundated the toilet in Kim Ha-min's cafe in Gwangju — Floodwaters have inundated the bathroom in Kim Ha-min’s cafe in Gwangju

A number of accidents had been reported throughout the nation, together with two individuals affected by hypothermia and two others who sustained leg accidents.

As of 16:00 native time (07:00 GMT) on Thursday, greater than 1,300 individuals had been evacuated.

Authorities have urged individuals to avoid riverbanks, steep slopes and underground areas, warning that the chance of landslides and flash floods stays excessive.

Dry air from the north-west combined with scorching and humid air from the south to type particularly massive rain clouds, South Korea’s meteorological administration says.

However forecasters count on excessive temperatures to return subsequent week, with the potential of a heatwave.