At least 17 fatalities reported as severe flooding and landslides hit South Korea

The south-eastern region of South Korea is grappling with an unprecedented crisis as heavy rains have resulted in severe floods and landslides, claiming at least 17 lives, according to the country’s disaster management office. With 11 individuals still unaccounted for, there are growing fears that the death toll may rise as emergency rescue operations continue. Visuals from the disaster zone depict residents navigating through thick mud in the resort town of Gapyeong, where damaged bridges have left many seeking refuge in evacuation shelters. In a catastrophic incident further south, an entire village was buried beneath earth and debris due to a landslide in the central Chungcheong area, as shown in footage released on Saturday. The majority of casualties have been recorded in the southern area, particularly Sancheong, where six people have died and seven remain missing. The ruthless floodwaters have inflicted severe damage, with thousands of roads and buildings submerged and significant devastation to farmland and livestock reported. Since the torrential downpour began on Wednesday, nearly 10,000 individuals have fled their homes, and over 41,000 households have temporarily lost power. Although the rain has started to ease in the hardest-hit regions, it has shifted northward, with more severe weather anticipated in Seoul and surrounding areas on Sunday. In response to the crisis, President Lee Jae-myung declared the affected regions as special disaster zones, initiating a coordinated recovery effort across multiple agencies. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung requested that local authorities rapidly deploy all available resources. Notably, a landslide in Gapyeong County resulted in two fatalities as several structures were overwhelmed by mud. While rainfall is expected to subside by Sunday evening, a subsequent intense heatwave is projected to follow.