How Record Flooding in South Korea and Earthquakes in Spain Destroy Homes in Minutes

In South Korea, the city of Geoje set an all-time hourly rainfall record, with 124.5 mm of rain falling in 60 minutes, while muddy torrents rose to the second-floor level of residential complexes. In Spain, a series of shallow earthquakes with magnitudes of up to 4.8 caused widespread damage to buildings in hundreds of towns and settlements across Andalusia.

In Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on the planet, six times the annual amount of rainfall fell in just three days, triggering devastating mudflows. In the Hawaiian Islands, Tropical Storm Lala brought more than a meter of rain, washing away soil and exposing graves in local cemeteries, while in Germany, three tornadoes formed during severe storms, claiming the lives of two people.

Waves of extreme rainfall, seismic activity, and tropical cyclones across different continents formed a single chain of energy redistribution — this is an analysis of the main climatic and geophysical events from August 17 to 23, 2026.

00:00 Introduction
00:26 South Korea: Geoje’s all-time hourly rainfall record and devastating floods
03:47 Spain: A series of shallow earthquakes with magnitudes of up to 4.8 in Andalusia
06:30 Chile: Anomalous rainfall and snowfall in the Atacama Desert, triggering mudflows
09:27 Peru: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake and massive landslides in the Ayacucho region
10:56 United States: Hurricane Lala in Hawaii, record rainfall, and infrastructure damage
13:24 Germany: Confirmed tornadoes and storm damage across several federal states
15:42 Conclusions: The psychology of evacuation and basic emergency preparedness rules

Natural disasters are often perceived through dry figures such as magnitude and wind speed, but behind these numbers lies a profound transformation of everyday life. Evacuation is not merely a technical term used in reports, but a moment when a person is forced to leave their home without any guarantee of being able to return. The consequences of a disaster last far longer than the event itself, affecting housing, employment, and the familiar environment people call home.

Being prepared for such situations does not mean expecting the worst. It comes down to simple but critically important actions: knowing evacuation routes, always having essential documents, a charged phone, and a supply of water readily available. Ignoring official warnings because everything outside the window appears calm can cost lives. Understanding these risks and preparing in advance remain the key conditions for staying safe in a changing environment.

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