Persistent rainfall in South Korea has claimed at least 14 lives and left 12 missing, as reported by authorities on Sunday.
According to the Interior and Safety Ministry, southern areas endured approximately 24-31 inches (600-800 millimeters) of rainfall since Wednesday. Heavy rains and flooding severely affected Sancheong, a town in the south, causing eight fatalities due to landslides. Six more individuals remain unaccounted for in the region after their homes were destroyed by flash floods.
In Gapyeong, situated northeast of Seoul, a house collapse on Sunday resulted in one fatality. Additionally, another person lost their life after being swept away by a swollen stream in the town.
Rainfall has ceased in most parts of the country, leading to the lifting of heavy rain alerts nationwide, as announced by ministry officials. The multi-day deluge began on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of 3,840 individuals by Sunday, as well as flight cancellations.
Earlier in the week, three individuals died after their vehicle was submerged, and another person was killed when their car was buried by soil and concrete due to the collapse of an overpass retaining wall in Osan, just south of Seoul.
Typically, South Korea experiences monsoon rains in July, but this year the country has witnessed more intense rainfall than usual. Scientists attribute such extreme weather events to climate change, which makes them more frequent and severe.
In 2022, severe rains and flooding in South Korea resulted in at least 11 deaths.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/south-korea-death-toll-from-rains-rises-to-14/a-73341047?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
