In brief
In southeastern South Korea, deadly floods and landslides have resulted in at least 17 deaths and left 11 individuals missing. Emergency services are working tirelessly as rainfall, which has largely mitigated, continues to affect northern regions. With damage to thousands of homes and infrastructure, President Lee Jae-myung has declared special disaster zones while recovery efforts are launched.
At least 17 individuals have tragically lost their lives in South Korea due to a series of floods and landslides triggered by relentless rainfall, according to the nation's disaster management office. As emergency rescue operations press on, there are growing concerns that the death toll may rise, with 11 persons still unaccounted for.Shocking footage reveals scenes from the resort town of Gapyeong, where individuals painstakingly navigated through thick mud on Sunday, making their way to evacuation shelters across a damaged bridge. In the central Chungcheong region, an entire village was reportedly buried under mud and debris following a recent landslide.The southern regions of South Korea have been particularly hard-hit, leading to six fatalities and seven missing persons in Sancheong alone. The ferocity of the floodwaters has wreaked havoc on thousands of roads and buildings, prompting extensive damage to agricultural areas and resulting in the loss of livestock. Nearly 10,000 residents have evacuated their homes since the rain began on Wednesday, with over 41,000 households experiencing temporary power outages.While the severe rain has subsided in the most affected southern and central regions, it has shifted northward, with heavy rain expected to impact the capital city of Seoul and nearby areas on Sunday. In response to the devastating situation, President Lee Jae-myung has announced the designation of special disaster zones in the worst-affected areas as part of a coordinated recovery initiative.Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung has urged local authorities to deploy "all available resources" rapidly to assist in rescue and recovery efforts. A landslide in Gapyeong County resulted in two fatalities, with several homes overwhelmed by mud, according to information relayed by government officials. Anticipated rainfall is expected to taper off by late Sunday, but an intense heatwave is following close behind. Rescue operations are currently underway in Gwangju as communities grapple with the impact of these extreme weather events.
