Torrential Rains in Many Parts of the World, Killing 549 People in Pakistan in One Month

(Minghui.org) In recent weeks, heavy rains hit many parts of the world. In Iran, the rain caused floods in 60 cities, 140 towns, and more than 500 villages. At least 80 people were killed. Pakistan has lost at least 549 lives and has seen more than 46,200 homes damaged in the past month due to unusually heavy monsoon rains that caused flash floods.

Seoul, South Korea’s Heaviest Torrential Rain in 80 Years, At Least 8 Dead

Torrential rains have continued in the central region of South Korea, and disasters have spread frequently in the metropolitan area and other regions since August 8, 2022. At least 8 people have been killed, 6 people have gone missing, and more than 100 people have been forced to seek refuge in residential centers and other places.

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Security, three of those who died were trapped in a flooded semi-basement; a woman drowned in her home; and a worker died while clearing out the fallen trees, possibly electrocuted. Nine others were injured and at least seven remained missing.

South Korea has been hit by record heavy rains in decades. Houses, roads, and subway stations were flooded. There were also power outages. (Web image)

Yonhap News Agency reported that since August 8, the torrential rain in the central region of South Korea has reached a new high in 80 years. The accumulated rainfall in many areas exceeded 300 mm. According to the Meteorological Agency, the rainfall in Xindafang-dong, Dongjak District, Seoul reached 422 mm, which was almost the same as the average rainfall for the entire month of July in Seoul.

The sudden heavy rain caused the roads south of the Han River in the Seoul area to be flooded. Many subway stations had to be closed due to severe water accumulation. The traffic on the roads was also seriously impacted or suspended due to flooding. Some sections of the road remained closed from 9:00 p.m. on August 8. The Ministry of Administration and Security raised the storm warning from “alert” to “severe” at midnight on August 9.

The heavy rain caused the following roads in the metropolitan area to be restricted: 80 roads, 3 underground lanes, 26 riverbank parking lots, 45 riverbanks and 134 trails in 4 national parks. There are also 19 ferry routes suspended.

Although the floodwaters had mostly receded on Tuesday (August 9) morning, road trees, collapsed sign boards, and displaced vehicles caused by heavy rains in various places still seriously hindered the commute to work in the metropolitan area for many days.

Thousands Trapped in Flash Floods in California’s Death Valley National Park

On August 5, 2022, heavy rain caused flash floods in Death Valley National Park, California, the United States. Dozens of vehicles were buried and all roads in and out of the park were closed. About 1,000 people were trapped and no casualties were reported.

Death Valley National Park is halfway between California and Nevada. The park service stated that this was equivalent to nearly a year’s worth of rainfall in one morning. The average annual rainfall in the park is 48 mm.

This is the second flash flood in Death Valley National Park in a week. The flooding brought sediment and rubbles which caused some roads to be closed on August 1. Some areas in western Nevada and northern Arizona were also affected.

At Least 80 Killed in Iran Floods, 30 Missing

Iran’s state media reported on July 30, 2022, that floods raged in the country for more than a week, killing at least 80 people and leaving another 30 unaccounted for.

Heavy rains caused floods in 60 cities, 140 towns, and more than 500 villages across Iran. Tehran province was the worst-hit province, where 35 people were killed. The nearby Mazandaran province had the most missing, a total of 20.

In addition, at least 22 people were killed in flooding caused by heavy rain by July 23 in the normally dry southern province of Fars.

Videos posted on local media and social media showed heavy rain causing high water levels in the Roodball river near Estahban, with cars swept away in the swift river.

Iran has experienced numerous droughts and floods over the past decade. In 2019, massive floods in southern Iran claimed at least 76 lives and estimated damages in excess of $2 billion.

35 Killed by Floods in Kentucky, Including 6 Children

Torrential rains caused flooding in eastern Kentucky, U.S., washing away homes, destroying roads, and flooding rivers. As of August 1, at least 35 people are known to have died and hundreds more are missing.

Days of thunderstorms, floods, and mudslides have devastated Kentucky’s affected areas. According to a video released by local media, the floodwaters reached the roofs of houses and roads turned into rivers.

With continued rains and flooding damage to some critical infrastructure, it could be weeks before all the missing or dead are found.

In the coal mining town of Garrett, about 200 kilometers southeast of Lexington, Kentucky, the turbid flood water flowed through a commercial street and crashed into the storefronts. Rescue dinghies carrying residents in life jackets rowed along the flooded streets, with the roofs of cars submerged.

Pakistan Suffers the Heaviest Rainfall in 30 Years, 549 People Killed in Floods in One Month

On August 5, the unusually heavy rains in Pakistan over the past month caused flash floods, killing at least 549 people and damaging more than 46,200 houses. Poor rural communities in southern Balochistan have become one of the worst hit areas.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Agency stated that during the past month, the country had the wettest month in 30 years, with rainfall 133% higher than the average of the past 30 years.

In addition, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Agency also pointed out that the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, which is connected to the borders of Iran and Afghanistan, has received 305% more rainfall than the average of the past 30 years.

Spain Faces the Worst Drought in 57 Years

While many parts of the country were hit by heavy rains, Spain was struggling with a lack of rainfall. The low level of rainfall in Spain from May to July broke a 57-year meteorological record. The reservoir was in a deep water shortage crisis. Facing the worst drought in history, some regional governments have resorted to water restrictions.

Ciudad Real, located in central Spain, had no rain for 49 consecutive days. Compared with the average rainfall of 72 mm for the same period, the rainfall from May to July this year did not even reach 1 mm.

In August, the national reservoir storage capacity was only 41.9%, about 20% lower than the average for the same period. In the face of the water shortage crisis, cities and towns such as Barcelona, Malaga, Pontevedra and Huelva have had to take measures to restrict the usage of water.

Chilean Sinkhole Doubles to 50 Meters in Diameter

The last news item in this report did not concern unusual weather, but an abnormal geological phenomenon. A giant sinkhole near a copper mine in Chile’s Atacama Desert was discovered on July 30, 2022. As of August 7, the diameter of the sinkhole doubled, prompting local officials to order the nearby copper mines to stop their operations.

The sinkhole is located about 665 kilometers north of Santiago, the capital of Chile, near the Alcaparrosa mine operated by Canada’s Lundin Mining.

Reuters reported that the diameter of the sinkhole has expanded to 50 meters and a depth of about 200 meters. It could fit the Arc de Triomphe as well as the Space Needle from Seattle which is about 184 meters high.

Mining companies stated that the sinkhole has not affected workers or local residents, who are also trying to understand how the sinkhole was formed.