In South Korea, at least 37 people have been killed by landslides and flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Nine people are also missing across the country, the Interior Ministry in Seoul announced on Sunday.
Most of the fatalities were buried by landslides or swept away by the flooding of an overflowing dam. In Cheongju, North Chungcheong province alone, at least nine people have died in a road tunnel flooding.
Monsoon rains caused the dam to overflow
South Korea is in the middle of the monsoon season. Usually the country is well prepared and the death toll is usually low. But now four days of heavy rain fell, flooding the Goesan Dam in North Chungcheong, among other things.
The South Korean weather bureau expected even more precipitation until Wednesday. There is still a “serious” danger. Residents in threatened areas were asked not to leave their homes and apartments if possible.
tunnel full
In Cheongju, rescuers continued to try to get to the more than 10 cars trapped in the 430-meter road tunnel, the interior ministry said on Sunday. According to the Yonhap news agency, this Saturday filled up so quickly that people could not get to safety. Five people have been rescued from a bus stuck in the tunnel.
Journalists on the scene reported on Sunday that rescuers were trying to pump water out of the tunnel. According to the Yonhap news agency, divers were also busy searching for other victims 24 hours a day.
North Gyeongsang was hardest hit by the storm, with 19 deaths. In the mountainous area, the water masses had caused several large landslides. According to the Ministry of the Interior, some of the missing people there were also swept away by a river during floods. 1,500 people affected by evacuations have not yet been able to return to their homes.
Extreme weather due to climate change
According to his office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is currently traveling abroad, has been discussing necessary government measures with his staff. Earlier, Yoon had called on Prime Minister Han Duck Soo to mobilize all available rescue workers.
South Korea had already experienced heavy rainfall and flooding last year, killing 11 people. The government stated at the time that it was the heaviest rainfall since weather records began 115 years ago. She attributed the extreme weather to climate change.
Source: Krone
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