By Kim Rahn
Gangnam and many other districts in Seoul became vast water parks Wednesday as continuing heavy rain inundated roads, houses and subways.
Cars were submerged and many public transportation routes were paralyzed by road closures due to flooding. Commuters had to suffer extreme traffic jams, as well as having to wade ankle deep through water, while shop owners were busy pumping out water from their shops.
The torrential rain, which began Tuesday, flooded the Sejongno Intersection when the amount of rainfall overwhelmed drainage facilities, leaving car lanes closed during the morning rush hours.
Water also swept into the nearby Gwanghwamun subway station, although train operations were not suspended. Lee Mi-suk, a worker at the Seven Eleven on the first basement floor of the station, said, “The water flooded down the stairs. We put sandbags around the shop but they didn’t help. It’s lunchtime and we are still mopping water up.”
The situation was worse in southern Seoul, with water around Gangnam Station rising to people’s knees.
Yangjae Stream overflowed its banks and submerged cars in some residential districts. Some drivers abandoned their vehicles as water levels suddenly rose and stalled them, contributing to the traffic congestion when the flooding drained away.
Jeon Gu, a bus driver on the Gangnam to Gwanghwamun route, said to passengers who boarded in Hannam, central Seoul, “The situation in Gangnam is worse with cars blocking the roads. You are lucky to be working on the northern side of the Han River. I just came from there and buses are being swamped by the flooding and can barely move.”
The authorities closed major roads, including the Dongbu Expressway and parts of the Olympic and Gangbyeon expressways as submerged cars blocked them. Subway stations including Gangnam, Seonneung, Sadang, Oryudong and Juan were also flooded; and traffic lights at 150 intersections were shorted out.
The road closures and sporadic public transportation made commuters late for work. Many people took off their shoes and socks in their offices to dry them.
Lee Jung-mi, a 32-year-old employee at a clinic in Yeouido, said, “I was lucky not to be late for work as I live close to my office. But my colleagues, especially those who use subway Line No. 1 to commute, were all late. There are also many patients calling to cancel their appointments.”
Some even gave up going to work. Kim Seok-yong, an IT solution company worker whose office is near Gangnam Station, took the day off. “When I was preparing to go out of the house, I saw news that the area was in total crisis. I decided not to go to work and instead look after my house as I was worried that it could be damaged. This district is notorious for frequent flooding,” Kim said.