2011 Seoul floods
Encyclopedia
Heavy rainfall in South Korea
in late July 2011 triggered a series of flash flood
s and landslide
s that killed at least 49 people by July 27, leaving a total of more than 77 dead or missing. On July 27, the number of killed rose further to 69. The floods occurred primarily around the national capital Seoul
and nearby Siheung
regions. At least 86 power outages followed the landslides, affecting 125,000 people by July 27. Over 11,000 South Koreans were forced to evacuate.
hit the mountains of the Korean Peninsula
, producing over 495 mm (19.5 in) of rain in the Seoul region during a two-day span, the heaviest such event in July since 1907. 587 mm (23.1 in) of rain was recorded in the area after three days.
, east of Seoul, killing 13 people from Inha University
. A landslide in Umyeon-dong
killed 18 residents in an apartment block. Floodwaters innundated highways and tracks of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
, while bridges over the Han River
were closed off. Damages are likely to be in the hundreds of millions USD. Motor vehicle damages reached $38 million on July 28. Close to 978 ha (2,416.7 acre) of agricultural land and more than 10,000 homes were flooded.
sought Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon
as the main culprit of the worsened flood crisis; as both of his Hangang Renaissance project and his Design Seoul project (redesigned some streets in Seoul) had further increased the overall damage of the flooding.
There is a concern whether the Umyeon-san landslide was a natural cause or an intentional negligence of prevention by the government.
in the vicinity of Umyeon were buried by a landslide on July 26, and have not been recovered as of July 28.
, nearly 100 km² (38.6 sq mi) of land was flooded, with the worst impact in South Hwanghae. Fatalities and damages are unknown.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in late July 2011 triggered a series of flash flood
Flash flood
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas—washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm, hurricane, or tropical storm or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields...
s and landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s that killed at least 49 people by July 27, leaving a total of more than 77 dead or missing. On July 27, the number of killed rose further to 69. The floods occurred primarily around the national capital Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and nearby Siheung
Siheung
Siheung is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.In the early Three Kingdoms period, the Siheung area was part of the Baekje kingdom. It was lost to Goguryeo along with the Han River valley in 475....
regions. At least 86 power outages followed the landslides, affecting 125,000 people by July 27. Over 11,000 South Koreans were forced to evacuate.
Causes and meteorology
On July 25, rains and thunderstorms triggered by a troughTrough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
hit the mountains of the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, producing over 495 mm (19.5 in) of rain in the Seoul region during a two-day span, the heaviest such event in July since 1907. 587 mm (23.1 in) of rain was recorded in the area after three days.
Impact
On July 26, a landslide buried three hotels in ChuncheonChuncheon
Chuncheon is the capital of Gangwon Province, South Korea. The city lies in the northeast of the country, located in a basin formed by the Soyang River and Han River. There are some large lakes around the city, most notably Lake Soyang and Lake Uiam...
, east of Seoul, killing 13 people from Inha University
Inha University
Inha University is a private, co-educational university located in Incheon, South Korea. It is owned by Hanjin Group.Inha University was established by the first president of South Korea, Syngman Rhee. It is a Korean-American collaboration school, even in its name: the Morpheme "In" comes from the...
. A landslide in Umyeon-dong
Umyeon-dong
Umyeon-dong is a dong, neighbourhood of Seocho-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It is a legal dong administered under its administrative dong , Yangjae 1-dong. The first syllable of the name is derived from Umyeonsan, or Mt...
killed 18 residents in an apartment block. Floodwaters innundated highways and tracks of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Seoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway or Metropolitan Subway in Seoul, in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's thirteen lines...
, while bridges over the Han River
Han River (Korea)
The Han River is a major river in South Korea and the fourth longest river on the Korean peninsula after the Amnok, Duman, and Nakdong rivers. It is formed by the confluence of the Namhan River , which originates in Mount Daedeok, and the Bukhan River , which originates on the slopes of Mount...
were closed off. Damages are likely to be in the hundreds of millions USD. Motor vehicle damages reached $38 million on July 28. Close to 978 ha (2,416.7 acre) of agricultural land and more than 10,000 homes were flooded.
Economic damage
Rail infrastructure in South Korea was impacted, while a South Korean investment analyst expected economic inflation to reach 4.6%.Political issues
An editorial from Kyunghyang ShinmunKyunghyang Shinmun
The Kyunghyang Shinmun or Kyonghyang Sinmun is a major daily newspaper published in South Korea. It is based in Seoul. The name literally means Urbi et Orbi Daily News.-History:...
sought Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon
Oh Se-hoon
Oh Se-hoon was the Mayor of Seoul between 2006 and August 26, 2011. On June 3, 2010, Oh was reelected as the Mayor of Seoul but resigned after losing a referendum on the Seoul Free Lunch Referendum.. Oh is a member of the Grand National Party.-Personal history:Oh was born in Seongdong-gu...
as the main culprit of the worsened flood crisis; as both of his Hangang Renaissance project and his Design Seoul project (redesigned some streets in Seoul) had further increased the overall damage of the flooding.
There is a concern whether the Umyeon-san landslide was a natural cause or an intentional negligence of prevention by the government.
Landmine threat
Approximately ten landmines from the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in the vicinity of Umyeon were buried by a landslide on July 26, and have not been recovered as of July 28.
North Korean floods
In neighbouring North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, nearly 100 km² (38.6 sq mi) of land was flooded, with the worst impact in South Hwanghae. Fatalities and damages are unknown.