Heavy Downpour in Korea

There was an extreme flooding in South Korea  just a few weeks ago in mid-August, with the heaviest rain in Seoul in 115 years. The downpour flooded the streets and houses, killing 9 people. Between the three days of downpour total of 525 mm was recorded in Seoul. It was more than a month’s worth of rainfall.

One of the most affected areas of Seoul was Gangnam, which is known for the famous song "Gangnam Style". The neighborhood near Gangnam subway station is about 10 meters lower in altitude than surrounding area, causing the area to flood very quickly. The flooding was over the volume the drainage system could handle, which is 90 to 95 mm of rain per hour.

We can expect to see continued extreme flooding in the future as average temperatures across the Korean peninsula have increased by nearly 2 degrees Celsius over the past century, which is faster than the global average. The warmer air is able to hold more moisture and therefore there will be more frequent and intense rainfall situations. Korea’s precipitation has increased and its average annual amount could rise by 172.5 mm by the end of the century, if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed.

Many roads in Seoul do not have the drainage system to efficiently and timely remove water runoff of heavy rainfall. The establishment of proper drainage system is much needed. Accordingly, the city announced that it will spend $1.15 billion in the next decade to build six massive underground tunnels to store and release rainwater to prevent flooding.

<Reference>

After deluge, climate change fears make S.Korea prioritise Seoul flood defences | Reuters

Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters (koreatimes.co.kr)

South Korea is dealing with the worst flooding in 80 years : NPR

Heavy rains flood South Korea's capital Seoul, killing at least 8 - The Washington Post