At least 5 dead, 1 missing from heavy rain in central, southern regions

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At least 5 dead, 1 missing from heavy rain in central, southern regions

Published: 10 Jul. 2024, 12:44 Updated: 12 Jul. 2024, 01:02

Firefighters carry stranded residents as a part of efforts to evacuate 36 villagers in Yongchon-dong in Seo District, Daejeon, after overnight rain flooded the area on Wednesday. Fire authorities mobilized 13 pieces of equipment and 73 personnel to rescue residents. [NEWS1]

Heavy downpours in central and southern regions overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday left at least five people dead and one missing as flooding and landslides destroyed houses and damaged roads, according to regional fire authorities.

In South Chungcheong, a woman in her 60s was discovered under debris at around 1:50 p.m., three hours after reports of her being buried in a landslide. Similarly, a 72-year-old man was found after his house collapsed in a landslide in Seocheon around 4 a.m.

The two both suffered cardiac arrests and were sent to hospital where they were declared dead upon arrival.

At about 3 a.m., heavy rain flooded a studio apartment building in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, leading to the death of a man trapped in a flooded elevator.

Heavy torrential downpours pounded South Chungcheong on Wednesday morning, with Seocheon recording 111.5 millimeters of rain per hour at one point in the early morning.

From midnight to 3 p.m., regional fire authorities received 940 reports of rain damage, including house flooding and road disruptions.

Firefighters evacuate people in Yongchon-dong, Seo District, Daejeon, after overnight rain flooded the area on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

In Daegu, a farmer in his 60s drowned after being sucked into a drainage system while inspecting his fields.

Twenty-seven villagers in the region were evacuated to a nearby school after their village in Dong District was marooned by the torrential rain.

In North Chungcheong, a man in his 70s died after his car plunged into a swollen stream around 5 a.m. He was returning from inspecting his cattle shed at the time of the accident.

Rescuers were also searching for a 71-year-old man who went missing after the shipping container he was living in was damaged by heavy rain in Yeongdong, North Chungcheong.

Record torrential rainfall swept the nation on early Wednesday morning, sparing only northern parts of greater Seoul and northern parts of Gangwon.

Many southern regions saw over 200 millimeters of rain overnight, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Gunsan, North Jeolla, saw record amounts of rain at 131.7 millimeters per hour, marking the heaviest hourly downpour on official record nationwide.

The amount accounts for over 10 percent of the city's average annual rainfall.

"It was a level of severity seen once in about 200 years," a weather agency official said.

Sudden heavy rain early Wednesday morning also destroyed roads and flooded many areas, stranding people inside buildings.

In Daejeon, around 36 villagers were stranded in Yongchon-dong after floods swept through the neighborhood.

In Wanju of North Jeolla, rescuers evacuated 18 people who were trapped due to a swollen stream, with some waiting on rooftops for help.

Twenty people were rescued in Yeongdong, North Chungcheong while some 50 households evacuated to nearby schools due to potential flooding of reservoirs and streams.

The torrential rain also led to the cancellation of 21 flights at Gimhae International Airport in the southeastern port city of Busan and delays for 16 others.

All train services on the Janghang Line in South Chungcheong and the Gyeongbuk Line in North Gyeongsang have been suspended until 6 p.m.

Additionally, 15 new damage reports on cultural assets were made following the torrents on Wednesday.

A lull is expected on Thursday morning, followed by more monsoon rain from Thursday night to Friday morning accompanied by strong winds.

Update, July 10: Death toll and other details were updated throughout the story.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]