SEOUL, South Korea (BN24) — Torrential rains have triggered deadly floods and landslides across South Korea, killing at least 14 people and leaving 12 others missing, according to the country’s disaster management agency.
Emergency crews continued search and rescue operations Sunday in hard-hit areas, particularly in the country’s southern and central regions. Officials warn the death toll could climb as more people remain unaccounted for and widespread destruction hampers access to affected communities.
Footage from the popular resort town of Gapyeong showed residents wading through thick mud and debris on Sunday, some crossing damaged bridges as they made their way to evacuation shelters. In the northern part of Gapyeong County, two people were killed after a landslide buried several homes, according to officials cited by AFP.
Farther south, an entire village in Chungcheong was swallowed by a massive landslide on Saturday, leaving a trail of wreckage and displaced families. The rural county of Sancheong was among the worst-affected, with six confirmed dead and seven still missing after intense rainfall flooded roads and homes.
More than 9,900 people have been evacuated from their homes since the rains began Wednesday. The flooding has knocked out power to over 41,000 households and inundated thousands of roads, buildings, and farmland. Reports also indicate widespread livestock deaths and extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure.
While rainfall has eased in the southern and central regions, the downpours have moved northward, with forecasts calling for continued heavy rain in Seoul and surrounding areas through Sunday. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the severe weather is expected to taper off by late Sunday, followed by a potentially dangerous heatwave.
President Lee Jae-myung ordered the declaration of special disaster zones in the most heavily affected areas during an emergency briefing Sunday. He also called for swift interagency coordination to aid recovery efforts.
Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung urged local governments to mobilize “all available resources” to assist affected communities, emphasizing the urgency of restoring basic services and preventing further casualties.
The nation remains on high alert as cleanup and recovery begin amid fears of more landslides in unstable terrain.
