catastrophic monsoon rains, landslides kill seven people in South Korea

 After three days of severe rains that caused extensive damage, authorities predict further showers, which might result in an increase in the death toll.

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On August 8, 2022, a man wades next to flooded automobiles in a street in Seoul, South Korea's Gangnam neighbourhood. — AFP

SEOUL: At least seven people have died and three are still missing in South Korea as a result of landslides and floods brought on by intense monsoon rains, according to officials, who also ordered thousands of others to leave their homes because of an overflowing dam.

The country was hit by significant monsoon-related rain for the third day in a row, creating catastrophic flooding in both urban and rural regions and raising the death toll, according to local media sources.

More than 6,400 inhabitants in the central county were told to leave this morning, according to the interior ministry, as the Goesan Dam started to flood due to the rain, burying low-lying settlements nearby.

The seven fatalities since Friday were caused by landslides brought on by rain and building collapses, it was noted.

According to the government, a river flooded in North Gyeongsang province and carried away two of the three persons who were reported missing.

According to Foreign Policy, the heavy rains also knocked out electricity in 4,000 homes, damaged residential areas, and destroyed infrastructure and vegetation.

As much as 100 mm of rain is expected this weekend, the government has issued a high-alert warning for more floods.

As of 2:00pm (0500 GMT), all normal rail service across the country was reportedly halted, however KTX bullet trains continued to run with possible timetable changes. 

A train derailed late on Friday as a landslip spilled mud and sand across rails in North Chungcheong province, causing slower train operation, according to the ministry. An engineer was hurt during the event, but no passengers were present.

Han Duck-soo, the prime minister of South Korea, advised officials to "preemptively" respond to landslides and river overflows and asked the ministry of defence for assistance with rescue efforts.

More than 100 people have allegedly died this month in Asia alone as a result of severe monsoon rains and harsh weather around the globe, which many attribute to the disastrous effects of climate change.

According to experts, there is a greater likelihood of more intense downpours occurring globally.

For the first time in seven years, the World Meteorological Organisation proclaimed the start of El Nio last week. El Nio is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific increase by at least 0.5°C over the long-term normal.

According to the agency, this paved the way for an increase in global temperatures as well as disruptive weather and climatic patterns.