Torrential rains pounded central parts of the country on Monday, leaving at least four people dead, disaster officials said.

Heavy rain alerts were issued in Seoul as well as Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces as more than 100 millimeters of rain soaked the areas.

Some roads, river walks and bridges in Seoul were closed and a parking lot was fully flooded, damaging around 30 to 40 cars. Parts of the city received an average of 80 millimeters of rain with up to 145.5 millimeters in some districts.

Roads near subway stations in the Gangnam district of Seoul were flooded, hindering rush-hour traffic.

Four people in their 60s and 70s were found dead after landslides in Icheon and Yeoju, eastern Gyeonggi Province.

Precipitation reached 337.5 millimeters in southern Gyeonggi Province and 230.5 in Gangwon Province.

Pathways in three national parks were closed and the operation of two passenger ship routes were suspended.

Nine schools in Gwangju, southern Gyeonggi Province, were closed as more than 200 millimeters of precipitation hit the city.

Mudslides temporarily shut down three sections on Yeongdong Highway which connects Seoul and Gangwon.

More downpours are expected in the capital and the surrounding areas with up to 120 millimeters of rainfall expected by Tuesday, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

The rain front will still affect the areas throughout this week. 


By Lee Hyun-jeong
(rene@heraldcorp.com)