Rain leads to fatalities and landslides in South Korea
At least 22 people have died and 14 are missing after heavy rains caused floods and landslides in South Korea, the government announced on Saturday (15), while also ordering thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
The heavy rains of the last three days have flooded several regions of the country. The highest number of deaths was recorded in North Gyeongsang province.
1 of 2 rescue workers take part in a search and rescue operation in Cheongju, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal Rescue workers take part in a search and rescue operation in Cheongju, South Korea Photo: Yonhap via Portal
According to the ministry, some missing people were swept away when a river burst its banks in North Gyeongsang province.
Because of the risk of flooding at a dam in the region, the authorities have ordered over 6,400 residents in central Goesan to vacate their homes.
“Houses have been completely swept away in the hardesthit areas,” an emergency team source told Yonhap news agency.
According to Yonhap, emergency workers tried to reach 19 cars blocked in an underground tunnel in a provincial town where one person was found dead.
The rains also caused rail services to be suspended in the afternoon, with the exception of highspeed trains, which are still operating, albeit with possible timetable changes.
2 out of 2 houses were partially submerged after the river in Cheongju, South Korea was flooded by rain Photo: Yonhap/via Portal Houses were partially submerged after the river in Cheongju, South Korea was flooded by rain Photo: Yonhap/via Portal
South Korean Prime Minister Han Ducksoo has urged local authorities to act “preventively” in the face of potential flooding and asked the army for help with rescue operations.
In Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, who is visiting Ukraine on Saturday.