Heavy downpours in South Korea have resulted in at least 14 deaths and 12 people still unaccounted for, according to the interior ministry.
The latest fatalities occurred in Gapyeong county, Gyeonggi province, where close to 170 millimeters (6.7 inches) of rain fell, causing landslides and flash flooding.
Two people were killed in the recent downpours, with a woman in her 70s dying when her house collapsed in a landslide.
The body of a man in his 40s was also found near a bridge after he drowned.
The total number of deaths from the five-day deluge now stands at at least 14, with most of the fatalities occurring in the southern county of Sancheong.
Sancheong county has been severely affected, with nearly 800 millimeters of rain falling since Wednesday.
Two bodies were found during search and rescue operations, raising the number of deaths in the rural county to eight, with six people still missing.
The county has a population of around 33,000 people.
South Korea typically experiences monsoon rains in July, but this week’s downpours were particularly intense, with some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record.
Scientists attributed the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to climate change.
In 2022, South Korea endured record-breaking rains and flooding, which killed at least 11 people.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with efforts focused on locating the 12 people still unaccounted for.
The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are recovered. The government and emergency services are working to provide aid and support to those affected by the flooding.
AFP
