Heavy rain floods South Korea’s capital Seoul, killing at least 7

The record rainfall, which had not ended as of Tuesday morning local time, was the worst in parts of Seoul since 1904, the year local officials began. documenting precipitation. Some 381.5 millimeters (15 inches) of rain hit southwestern Seoul on Monday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The next day of greatest precipitation was August 1. On February 2, 1920, when some 354.7 millimeters (14 inches) fell in the capital.

One image in particular sparked concern and intrigue online: a man in a suit sitting on top of a submerged car in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district.

“Nothing is more precious than life and safety. The government will carefully handle the heavy rain situation with the central headquarters of disaster safety measures,” said President Yoon Suk-yeol. wrote in a Facebook post.

Blackouts affected parts of the city and residents living in lower-lying areas were ordered to evacuate.

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued downpour warnings through Monday night in different central regions, warning that some areas would see 50 to 100 millimeters (1.9 to 3.9 inches) of rain per hour. It also sent out heat advisories for South Korea’s eastern provinces.

These intense precipitation events around the world are increasing due to human-caused climate change. A warmer atmosphere can retain more moisture and produce more intense rainfall.

Joseph Hatfield, 36, a teacher in Seoul who took video of the flooding in Anyang city in Gyeonggi province, south of Seoul, told The Post he saw many people in first-floor units trying to remove the water from their homes and businesses

“The river floods after heavy rains, but I’ve never seen it this high before, so it was quite alarming,” he said, adding that levels gradually increased during the afternoon as it rained into the night.