South Korea is grappling with the aftermath of relentless torrential rains that swept across the country over five consecutive days, leaving at least 14 people dead and 12 others missing as of Sunday, July 20, according to government officials.
The unprecedented deluge has caused widespread flooding, landslides, infrastructure failure, and mass evacuations, prompting authorities to elevate the national emergency response to its highest level.
Devastation in Southern and Central regions hit by most rain In 120 years
The most severe damage was reported in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, where eight people were killed and six remain missing. Landslides, flash floods, and collapsing homes wreaked havoc in the town following some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record.
Six of the deaths occurred in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, due to landslides,” reported The Chosun Daily, citing the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Additional fatalities were confirmed in Osan, Gyeonggi Province; Seosan and Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province; and Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul. In one tragic incident, a woman in her 70s was killed when her house collapsed in a landslide at approximately 4:40 a.m. in Gapyeong. Elsewhere in the town, a swollen stream swept away residents and vehicles.
The western Seosan area was hit by rainfall peaking at 114.9 millimeters (4.5 inches) per hour, “a level typically seen only once in 100 years”, a weather agency official told AFP. The official said that this was the highest rate since full records began in 1904.
Transportation and Infrastructure paralyzed
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported 4,154 separate incidents of damage across both public and private sectors. Approximately 12,921 residents from 9,504 households in 14 provinces and 86 municipalities were evacuated, with 4,638 people still residing in temporary shelters such as community centers and gymnasiums.
Critical transportation links have been disrupted. Train operations have been suspended on major lines, including Dongdaegu to Busan (Gyeongbu Line), Iksan to Mokpo (Honam Line), and Samnangjin to Gwangju Songjeong (Gyeongjeon Line). Road travel remains hazardous, with six national highways, 10 underpasses, and 56 riverside roads closed.
Access has also been restricted to 614 trails in 20 national parks, including Bukhansan, Mudeungsan, and Jirisan, due to safety concerns.
Government response escalates
In response to the deteriorating situation, the South Korean government raised the national emergency alert level to Level 3, the highest, on July 17 at 3:30 p.m. The heavy rain crisis alert was simultaneously elevated to “serious,” the top level on the country’s four-tier scale.
The National Fire Agency declared a Level 1 emergency in Sancheong at 10:20 a.m. on July 19, upgraded it to Level 2 just over an hour later, and initiated a national firefighting mobilization order at 1 p.m. to strengthen relief operations.
Weather outlook and Climate concerns
According to the national weather agency, the rainfall began on Wednesday and has dumped between 600–800mm (24–31 inches) of rain across southern regions. Gapyeong alone received 170mm of rainfall early Sunday morning.
“The rainfall is likely to stop on Sunday and be followed by a heat wave,” government weather forecasters announced, offering temporary respite from the catastrophic weather.
The latest deluge comes amid growing scientific consensus that climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather events across the globe. South Korea experienced a similar crisis in 2022, when record-breaking rains killed at least 11 people in Seoul.
As search and rescue operations continue, the full extent of the human and economic toll remains uncertain. With missing persons unaccounted for and critical infrastructure still impaired, authorities are urging vigilance and preparedness in case of further adverse weather conditions.