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At least four individuals have lost their lives and over 1,000 others have been compelled to flee following the torrential rains that pounded South Korea relentlessly, according to Ministry of the Interior and Safety officials on Thursday.
The severe weather commenced on Wednesday and resulted in extensive damage, including triggering landslides, flooding, and road collapses in several regions. In Osan, some 44 kilometers south of Seoul, one person was killed when a roadside wall 10 meters high collapsed onto a passing car, local fire authorities said. In another accident in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, emergency workers found a person in a submerged vehicle with no pulse. Despite resuscitation efforts, the victim was unsuccessful.
By 5 p.m. local time (0800 GMT), some areas of the South Chungcheong region had accumulated more than 400 millimeters (15.7 inches) of rain since the flooding started a record in the region, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. Weather forecasts issued warnings of further heavy rain throughout Thursday evening.
As a result of the continued rain, Korea Forest Service elevated landslide warnings to the top in several areas, such as Chungcheong. In Gwangju, about 267 kilometers south of Seoul, sudden flooding had been experienced just after warning rain, inundating 87 roads and 38 buildings within two hours, as per Yonhap News Agency.
The storm also affected education nationwide. The Ministry reported that 403 schools had to be closed due to the effects of the storm, with 166 schools experiencing property damages due to flooding and rain-related incidents.
Authorities are on red alert, with rescue teams in flood-hit areas to avoid further loss of life and mitigate damage. The government has asked residents in affected areas to remain indoors and adhere to safety guidelines as more rain falls in the next few days.
