Torrential Rains in South Korea Leave 14 Dead, 12 Missing After Days of Flooding
- Rahaman Hadisur
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
South Korea is reeling from the aftermath of five days of relentless rainfall that has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread evacuations across the country. Government officials confirmed on Sunday that at least 14 people have died and 12 remain missing.
According to the Interior and Safety Ministry, the most recent fatalities occurred on Sunday, when one person was killed after their home collapsed under the pounding rain, and another was swept away by a swollen stream in Gapyeong, a town northeast of Seoul.
The devastation was even more severe in the southern town of Sancheong on Saturday, where heavy downpours caused landslides, house collapses, and flash floods. Authorities reported eight deaths in that region alone, with six additional people still missing.
Search operations are ongoing in other affected areas. Six people remain unaccounted for in Gapyeong and in the southern city of Gwangju, as rescue teams continue to navigate damaged roads and unstable terrain.
The disaster unfolded over several days of intense rainfall. Earlier in the week, three individuals were found dead inside a submerged car, and another person lost their life when a retaining wall collapsed on their vehicle in Osan, just south of Seoul.
As of 9 a.m. on Sunday, approximately 3,840 people remain displaced, staying in temporary shelters as authorities assess the structural safety of homes and infrastructure. While the rain has largely subsided and heavy rain alerts have been lifted nationwide, the damage left behind is significant.
Meteorological data show that southern regions received 600 to 800 millimeters (24–31 inches) of rain since Wednesday, overwhelming drainage systems and triggering flash floods in multiple areas.
Emergency crews and local governments are continuing recovery efforts, while residents affected by the floods face the arduous task of rebuilding homes and communities.
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