South Korea Floods: At Least 33 Dead, 10 Missing Amid Devastating Monsoon
South Korea reels after deadly monsoon rains trigger severe flooding and landslides, killing at least 33 people with 10 still missing. Rescuers battle against time and raging waters to save those trapped, including a desperate mission to reach victims stuck in a flooded tunnel.
Flooded Tunnel Rescue Ends in Tragedy
The worst-hit spot is a 430-metre underground tunnel in Cheongju, North Chungcheong province. Floodwaters surged into the tunnel early Saturday, leaving people trapped with little chance to escape. So far, seven bodies have been recovered inside. Divers continue the grim search for more victims.
“I have no hope, but I can’t leave,” a parent of a missing person said heartbreakingly. “My heart wrenches thinking how painful it must have been for my son in the cold water.”
Monsoon Fury Strikes Mountainous Regions
Most casualties hit North Gyeongsang province, where massive landslides swallowed homes and trapped residents. Rising rivers swept away others who remain missing. The relentless rain also caused a major dam to overflow, worsening the crisis.
Government Battles Rising Death Toll as Warnings Mount
President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently overseas, held an emergency meeting to coordinate response efforts. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was ordered to mobilise all resources to curb further loss. The Korea Meteorological Administration warns of “grave” danger with heavy rains forecast to continue until Wednesday.
Climate Change Fuelling Extreme Weather – South Korea’s Flood Crisis
South Korea usually braces well for monsoon floods, keeping death tolls lower compared to other nations. But scientists warn climate change is ramping up the frequency and strength of such disasters.
Last year’s record-breaking rains killed 11 people, including three trapped in a flooded basement in Seoul — a chilling real-life echo of the Oscar-winning movie Parasite. Authorities link these extreme downpours to the heaviest rainfall since Seoul began recording weather data over a century ago.
