In brief
As South Korea faces devastating floods and landslides, emergency services continue to search for missing individuals amid fears of rising fatalities.
At least 17 people have tragically lost their lives due to relentless torrential rains that have caused severe floods and landslides across southeastern South Korea, according to the country's disaster management authorities. As rescue operations progress, there are concerns that the number of casualties may increase, especially with 11 individuals still unaccounted for.Graphic footage reveals harrowing scenes in the resort town of Gapyeong, where residents are navigating through thick mud as they make their way to evacuation shelters via damaged bridges. In a similarly catastrophic incident, a landslide engulfed an entire village in the central Chungcheong region, as described in dramatic video footage captured on Saturday.Much of the devastation has primarily impacted the southern regions of the country, where six people have reportedly died, and seven are missing in the town of Sancheong. The flooding has wreaked havoc, damaging thousands of roads and buildings, submerging fertile farmland, and leading to the loss of livestock. Since the catastrophic rains began on Wednesday, nearly 10,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, while over 41,000 households have temporarily lost power, as reported by local media. Although rainfall has tapered off in some of the worst-hit areas, forecasts indicate that more heavy rain may be on the horizon, particularly affecting the capital, Seoul, and northern regions.In response to the escalating crisis, President Lee Jae-myung has declared the areas most severely affected as special disaster zones, prompting the government to launch a multi-agency recovery initiative. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung has urged local authorities to utilize every available resource as swiftly as possible in the recovery efforts.In a tragic incident in northern Gapyeong County, two individuals lost their lives when multiple properties were overwhelmed by mudslides, as reported by AFP, citing government officials. While the rain is projected to cease late Sunday, an intense heatwave is expected to follow. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing in various regions, including Gwangju, where debris clearance operations are currently underway.
