Torrential Rains Trigger Deadly Floods and Landslides in South Korea, Killing at Least 14
Enet
South Korea’s disaster management office reported that at least 14 people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides triggered by days of heavy rainfall, with fears the death toll may climb as 12 others remain missing. Rescue operations are ongoing amid widespread destruction.
In the resort town of Gapyeong, footage captured residents navigating thick mud to reach evacuation shelters across a damaged bridge on Sunday. Further south, a village in the Chungcheong region was buried under earth and debris following a landslide on Saturday. The southern county of Sancheong was hit hardest, with six deaths and seven people unaccounted for.
The relentless downpours, which began on Wednesday, have damaged thousands of roads, buildings, and farmlands, with significant livestock losses reported. Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated, and over 41,000 households experienced temporary power outages, according to local media.
While the rains have eased in the south and central regions, heavy downpours shifted north, threatening Seoul and surrounding areas with more rain expected on Sunday. President Lee Jae-myung declared the worst-affected areas special disaster zones, mobilizing a multi-agency recovery effort. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung urged local authorities to deploy all available resources to aid rescue and recovery.
In northern Gapyeong County, a landslide claimed two lives after engulfing several properties, officials told AFP. The rainfall is expected to subside by late Sunday, but an intense heatwave is forecast to follow, complicating recovery efforts.
