At least 22 dead in South Korea torrential rains, flash floods

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Jul 2023 15:16

Just like many other countries in East Asia, the monsoon season takes place every summer in South Korea.

Houses collapsed from a landslide caused by heavy rain are seen in Yecheon, South Korea, Saturday, July 15, 2023 (AP)

The latest estimates on the death toll in the landslides and torrential floods that ravaged four different provinces in South Korea now stands at 22, authorities in South Korea said on Saturday.

An additional 14 individuals are reportedly missing, authorities added, noting that thousands have been ordered to evacuate affected areas.

Just like many other countries in East Asia, the monsoon season takes place every summer in South Korea.

South Korea hit with landslides and floods

🔸1,567 people had been evacuated nationwide, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety with local government's evacuation orders covering more than 7,000 people at various times. pic.twitter.com/NLAsxExbsn
— DD India (@DDIndialive) July 15, 2023

As the rain has been pouring for the past three days in the country, a major dam began overflowing in Goesan, causing small villages to be submerged under the water nearby.

Some of the victims are reported to have died buried by landslides, while others died falling into a flooded reservoir.

The majority of the casualties come from North Gyeongsang province, an area surrounded by mountains where landslides engulfed houses in the valleys.

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, some of the houses were swept away whole.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that over 6,400 residents in the central county of Goesan were ordered to evacuate early this morning as the Goesam Dam began to overflow.

According to Yonhap, emergency services are working to rescue 19 cars trapped in an underground tunnel in Cheongju, North Chungcheong province.

One of the drivers was reportedly found dead by rescue workers, the agency added.