South Korea: Torrential rains kill at least 7 in landslides and floods

Image used for representation purpose. Pic/PTI

Two days of heavy rain in South Korea killed at least seven people and left two others missing in landslides and floods, the government said Saturday. Additionally, eight people were trapped following landslides in central areas earlier in the day, reported AP.

Three people were killed Saturday after landslides caused by torrential downpours buried their houses in two central towns, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said in a report.

It said two other people were also found dead elsewhere Saturday in landslide-related accidents, and two other people died in a building collapse caused by landslides in the central city of Nonsan on Friday.

The report said two people were missing Saturday after flooding in their village in the central town of Yecheon.

It said five people were injured due to landslide-caused accidents, including a train-derailment, on Friday and Saturday. South Korea has been pounded by heavy rains since July 9. The ministry report said the rainfall forced about 1,570 people to evacuate and left thousands of households without electricity in the past several days.

South Korea's weather agency said some parts of the country will continue to receive heavy rains until Sunday.

Here's a timeline of floods in South Korea:

July 1955: The Nakdong River Flood - Heavy rainfall in the Nakdong River basin resulted in severe flooding, causing widespread damage and loss of life. This flood is considered one of the deadliest in South Korean history.

August 1998: Severe Floods - Intense monsoon rains triggered flooding across the country, affecting multiple regions. The floodwaters submerged towns and villages, causing significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture. This flood is known as the "Great Flood of 1998" and resulted in substantial economic losses.

July 2006: Typhoon Ewiniar - The typhoon brought torrential rains, leading to severe flooding and landslides. Many areas, particularly in the capital city of Seoul, were inundated, causing extensive damage and disrupting daily life.

July 2011: Yeoncheon County Flood - Heavy rains in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, caused flash floods that swept away buildings and vehicles. The flood resulted in numerous casualties and significant destruction.

August 2018: Monsoon Floods - Continuous monsoon rains led to flooding across multiple regions, including Seoul and surrounding areas. The floods caused landslides, collapsed buildings, and disrupted transportation. Several fatalities were reported, and thousands of people were displaced.

August 2020: Typhoon Maysak and Typhoon Haishen - Back-to-back typhoons hit South Korea, causing widespread flooding and landslides. The storms affected various regions, including Busan, Ulsan, and Gangwon Province. The floods resulted in casualties and significant damage to infrastructure.

August 2021: Typhoon In-fa and Typhoon Cempaka - The consecutive typhoons brought heavy rainfall to South Korea, leading to flooding in multiple regions. Seoul and its surrounding areas were particularly affected, with submerged roads and flooded buildings.

(AP)