SEOUL (AFP) – The South Korean government put officials on high alert for the height of the summer monsoon season as torrential rain swept across the country yesterday, causing power cuts and forcing more than 100 people to evacuate their homes.
Over 4,000 households have experienced power cuts in the capital, Seoul, South Korea due to the heavy rain that began last Sunday with 135 people forced to evacuate nationwide, as of 6am, according to the South Korea Ministry of Interior and Safety. One person is missing in the southern city of Busan while one has been injured in South Jeolla province.
In a meeting with government agencies, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said ensuring “no casualties were caused” was of utmost importance and ordered officials to stay on alert.
More than 10,500 police were put on traffic duty and increased patrols.
Last summer, Seoul was hit with floods caused by the heaviest rain in 115 years, inundating semi-basement flats in low-lying neighbourhoods, including in the largely affluent Gangnam district.
North Korea has also been getting heavy rains and might open floodgates at dams on rivers flowing across the border between the two Koreas, Han added.
“Heavy rain is expected in Hwanghae province and we need to thoroughly prepare for the possibility that North Korea might release water from its Hwanggang Dam,” he said, referring to the North’s central region.
