TORRENTIAL RAIN AND LANDSLIDES IN SOUTH KOREA LEAVE AT LEAST 18 DEAD
South Korea is grappling with the aftermath of severe torrential rains that triggered devastating landslides and flash floods across the southern and central regions, leaving at least 18 people dead and dozens more injured or missing. The relentless downpours, which began late last week, have caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and farmland, prompting emergency evacuations and rescue operations.
The hardest-hit areas include North Gyeongsang and South Chungcheong provinces, where swollen rivers overflowed and hillsides gave way, engulfing homes and roads. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, among the dead are residents who were buried alive when mudslides struck rural villages in the early hours of the morning. Several victims were elderly individuals unable to escape their homes in time.
More than 2,500 people have been displaced, and hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and public buildings to house the displaced, while local authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage. In many affected areas, roads have been washed away, hampering relief efforts.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, currently on an overseas visit, expressed his condolences and ordered all available resources to be mobilized for rescue and recovery efforts. “The safety of our citizens is our top priority,” he stated. “We must do everything in our power to prevent further loss of life and assist those who are suffering.”
The government has dispatched military units and emergency response teams to assist with rescue operations. Drones, helicopters, and thermal imaging equipment are being used to locate people trapped under debris or cut off by floodwaters. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has warned of continued heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising fears of further landslides and flooding.
In the city of Cheongju, one of the worst-affected areas, an underpass flooded within minutes after a nearby river burst its banks, submerging dozens of vehicles. Rescue divers recovered several bodies from submerged cars, and search efforts are ongoing.
Agricultural losses are also mounting. Thousands of hectares of rice paddies and vegetable fields have been inundated, dealing a blow to farmers already struggling with rising costs and unpredictable weather. The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing emergency assistance packages to help farmers recover from the devastation.
South Korea has seen an increase in extreme weather events in recent years, which many scientists attribute to climate change. Torrential summer rains are becoming more intense and erratic, placing additional stress on the country’s aging drainage and flood control infrastructure.
As the nation mourns the lives lost, questions are being raised about preparedness and response. Critics argue that more must be done to predict and mitigate natural disasters, especially in vulnerable rural and mountainous areas.
With more rain forecasted and the ground already saturated, authorities remain on high alert. Citizens are being advised to avoid travel in affected regions and to heed all weather warnings. For South Korea, the current crisis is a stark reminder of nature’s increasing fury and the urgent need for resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters.