South Korea rain death toll rises to 14

Rising death toll

The toll could continue to rise, as 12 individuals remain unaccounted for after five days of relentless rain.

Impact in Gapyeong county

In Gapyeong county, located in Gyeonggi province—70 kilometres (40 miles) east of Seoul—close to 170 millimetres (6.7 inches) of rain fell early Sunday. This severe weather resulted in at least two deaths and four missing persons.

Fatalities reported

A woman in her 70s tragically lost her life when her house collapsed due to a landslide. Additionally, the body of a man in his 40s was discovered near a bridge after he drowned, as reported by Yonhap news agency.

Total deaths from the deluge

The cumulative number of deaths from the five-day deluge now stands at a minimum of 14, based on official data.

Situation in Sancheong county

Most fatalities occurred in the southern county of Sancheong, which has recorded nearly 800 millimetres of rain since Wednesday. During search and rescue operations, two bodies were found early Sunday, increasing the death toll in this rural county of 33,000 to eight, with six individuals still missing.

Monsoon rains and preparedness

South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July and is generally well-prepared for such weather. However, this week, the southern regions were subjected to particularly intense downpours, marked by some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record, according to official weather data.

Climate change concerns

Scientists indicate that climate change is contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events globally. In 2022, South Korea faced record-breaking rains and flooding, resulting in at least 11 fatalities.