Seoul, South Korea (CNN)At least eight people in Seoul on Monday after record heavy rain flooded homes, roads and subway stations died. South Korea's capital lost power, forcing hundreds to evacuate, officials said.
South Korea's Ministry of Interior and Security said three of his dead were trapped in a flooded semi-basement. Nine others were injured and six are missing, the ministry said.
Since midnight local time on Monday, parts of Seoul have received a total of 422 mm (16 inches) of rain, prompting authorities to issue a Level 3 emergency alert. The city he recorded 141.5 millimeters (5.57 inches) of precipitation per hour. This is the highest percentage since authorities began keeping records.
Pictures across the city show severe flooding, with people crossing roads up to their thighs.
Although the floodwaters had largely subsided by Tuesday morning, cars and buses littered roads and sidewalks, impeding traffic in the morning.
According to Seoul Metro, in some areas of Seoul, drain pipes are backflowing, causing water to flow back into streets and subway stations. Flooding closed many metro stations and temporarily halted the line on Monday night. As of Tuesday morning, authorities are still working on reopening the station.
Several areas south of the Han River were the hardest hit, including the wealthy and modern Gangnam district, where some buildings and shops were flooded and power was cut.
Authorities said more than 741 homes and shops were affected by the floods, prompting some 800 residents to seek refuge in schools, gymnasiums, or voluntarily at local community centers. .
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol on Tuesday offered his condolences to the victims and said an on-site investigation would be conducted and efforts would be made to prevent further damage.
He also noted the need to review the country's disaster management system as extreme and unpredictable weather is expected to become more common due to the climate crisis.
Heavy rain will continue on Tuesday, with up to 100 millimeters (3.9 inches) of rain per hour expected in some areas, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Parts of Japan also received heavy rain Monday night, and flooding was reported in parts of Hokkaido, but no one was injured as of Tuesday. Officials have warned of the danger of flash floods and landslides.
