The streets and subway stations of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, were filled with water. The floods were particularly devastating in poor areas where many people live partially underground.
The capital of South Korea, Seoul, and its surroundings have been hit by the worst heavy rains in decades.
In the southern parts of Seoul, it was raining late Monday at around 100 millimeters per hour. In some places, the amount of rain rose up to 141.5 millimeters, which was the highest reading measured in South Korea in decades.
At least eight people have died and dozens have been injured in the devastating floods.
President of South Korea Yoon Suk-Yeol told Reuters today that the rains are believed to be the result of an extraordinary weather event caused by climate change.
The heavy rains are expected to continue at least until Wednesday.
The floods reveal South Korea’s inequality
President Yoon told the residents of the flood-affected area that he has instructed officials to find out measures to improve housing safety.
Today, Yoon visited the partially underground apartment where three family members died when floodwater filled the apartment.
This real-life tragedy brought to light South Korea’s inequality, previously depicted in the multi-Oscar and Cannes Palme d’Or-winning Korean film Parasite.
The main characters of the film live in a cramped, dilapidated semi-basement apartment, which is called a banjiha. In one scene of the film, the apartment fills with water as a result of heavy rain, and the family has to be rescued from there.