Devastating Torrential Rains Claim Four Lives in South Korea

Four fatalities were reported in South Korea as torrential rains battered the southern region. Infrastructure suffered significant damage, landslide warnings were issued, and thousands were stranded. The deluge has been described as a 'once in 200 years' incident by Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.

Four people lost their lives as torrential rains wreaked havoc on the southern region of South Korea on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera. The heavy downpour inflicted extensive damage on infrastructure, property, and roads. At least 50 regions received landslide warnings, while approximately 3,500 individuals were left stranded, reported the South Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

South Korean Interior Minister Lee Sang-min characterized the situation as one of unprecedented severity, stating, 'It was a level of severity seen once in about 200 years.' The affected area recorded 131.7 mm of rainfall on Wednesday, exceeding 10 percent of Gunsan City's average annual rainfall.

A tragic incident occurred when a man became trapped in an apartment lift in Nonsan after the building was inundated. Rescue crews found a man in his 70s inside a house that collapsed due to a landslide; he later died in the hospital. Another man in his 60s perished in Daegu after being drawn into a drainage system while tending to his farm. Additionally, a man in his 70s died when his vehicle was swept away by a surging stream. On July 18, 2023, 44 people had already died because of floods in South Korea.

The Marine Corps discovered the body of a woman in Yecheon, and a police rescue dog located another woman in her 70s amid piles of wood around noon, as reported by fire authorities. Later in the day, a male victim was also found in the same county. These individuals were among nine people missing due to the landslides and floods triggered by the severe weather. (ANI)