South Korea Floods Leave Victims and Heighten Concerns After Unprecedented Rainfall

Heavy rains hitting South Korea for the past five days have led to the death of at least 14 people, while the fate of another 12 remains unknown amid fears of rising casualties.

The latest fatalities occurred in Gyeonggi Province's Gapyeong County, where the area recorded 170 millimeters of rainfall in the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the deaths of two people and the disappearance of four others.

According to the official Yonhap news agency, two people died due to these rains, with a woman in her seventies losing her life after her house collapsed due to a landslide, while a man in his forties drowned in Gwacheon City. Most of the deaths were concentrated in the rural Sangjuong County, home to about 33,000 people, making it one of the most affected areas.

Although seasonal summer rains are common in South Korea, the unprecedented amounts that have recently fallen have caused widespread flooding, especially in the southern regions of the country. Meteorological authorities have recorded record levels of rainfall in short periods, increasing the difficulty of dealing with the aftermath.

Climate experts emphasize that global climate change contributes to the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, making such disasters more destructive. South Korea, like many countries, faces increasing challenges in dealing with the consequences of volatile weather that result in severe human and material losses.