SEOUL, South Korea: At least 24 people were killed and 10 more missing after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in South Korea, the Yonhap News Agency reported Saturday.
Yonhap cited local disaster relief officials to put the initial death toll at 24. “According to rescue authorities, an initial count indicated 24 people have died due to heavy rain so far,” Yonhap reported, adding that another 10 people were missing, mostly buried by landslides or after falling into a flooded reservoir.
Earlier reports suggested seven people killed, seven wounded, and three missing while thousands were evacuated Saturday as a third day of torrential rains caused landslides and the overflow of a dam.
Officials said as of 11 a.m. (0200 GMT), 1,567 people had been evacuated countrywide. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety. It has feared that the number could rise further after a dam overflowed in North Chungcheong province.
According to provincial authorities, the evacuation activity covered more than 7,000 people at various times.
According to the officials, as of 9 a.m. Saturday, more than 2,700 tons of water per second was flowing into Goesan Dam, the maximum it could release.
Korea Railroad Corp. has halted all slow trains and some bullet trains, while other bullet trains might be delayed due to slower operation, as track flooding, landslides and falling rocks threatened safety.
According to the transport ministry, a slow train derailed late Friday when earth fell on tracks after a landslide in North Chungcheong province.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, in a meeting with government agencies Saturday, had called for the military to actively join rescue operations. —AFP
