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5 dead as South Korea lashed by heavy rains

August 2, 2020

Torrential rains have triggered mudslides and flooding in South Korea leaving at least five people dead and several more missing. The deluge forced authorities to close roads and suspend rail services.

https://p.dw.com/p/3gHh2
South Korea flood waters wash away a road
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/YNA

South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Sunday said heavy rainfall had caused landslides in dozens of places and flooded residential areas and roads.

Much of the damage was in the Seoul metropolitan region and the central region of the country.

At least 5 people were reported to have been found dead while about 8 others appeared to have been swept away.

Among the dead were a woman believed to have died in a gas explosion after a landslide enveloped a cowshed, and a man who died when a chicken farm was engulfed by mud.

Three people from the same family — a woman, her daughter and son-in-law — were among those missing after torrents engulfed them in Danyang province.

Read more: What happens when climate change goes extreme?

Agricultural lands are inundated with flood waters
Agricultural lands are inundated with flood waters after heavy rains in AnseongImage: picture-alliance/AP/H. Ki-won

Train services were also disrupted on three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country. Several roads also had to be closed because of mudslides.

As of Sunday afternoon, heavy rain alerts were issued for Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with the downpour expected to last into Monday morning. Some 360 people were reported to have been made homeless by Sunday afternoon.

rc/mm (AP, Yonhap)