Five bodies of people who were trapped under a tunnel flooded by heavy rain in South Korea have been pulled out after a bus submerged at a flooded underpass in Cheongju. The death toll from torrential rains in the country has risen to 31, with 10 others missing. Heavy rains caused landslides and floods across the country. Over 7,500 people were evacuated, authorities said.
“We are focusing on the search operation because there are probably more people there,” said Seo Jeong-il, head of the West Chongju Fire Station.
When did the heavy rains start in South Korea?
South Korea has been battered by heavy rains since July 9, leaving 27,260 households without power and flooding or destroying dozens of homes in the past few days. The weather agency there said heavy rain would continue in some parts of the country as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo mobilized all available resources to respond to the disaster.
What do we know about South Korea flood deaths?
The highest death toll was reported in North Gyeongsang, where 16 people died, mostly due to landslides and house collapses. South Chungcheong Province reported four deaths. But authorities warned that the death toll was feared to rise as reports of damage came in across the country.
Is significant property damage reported?
As many as 59 cases of damage to public property were reported, including 18 cases of destroyed or swept away roads. Meanwhile, 80 cases of damage to private property were reported. Power outages were reported in 13 cities and counties across the country as more than 8,300 households in Mungyeong, Yeongju and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province are still without electricity.
