Twenty-one people have died and thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes in South Korea due to heavy rain that has caused landslides and flash floods. This severe weather has also led to 10 people being reported missing and nine others injured, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The majority of the deaths, sixteen in total, were recorded in North Gyeongsang province, situated along the eastern portion of the Korean Peninsula. Landslides were the leading cause of death in this area. In addition, two people died in the South Chungcheong Province city of Nonsan after their building collapsed due to a landslide.
As a result of these extreme weather conditions, more than 1,000 people across South Korea have been forced to leave their homes and seek temporary shelter. Furthermore, around 8,300 households in four provinces are currently experiencing power outages.
In response to this situation, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has ordered authorities to evacuate those living in landslide-prone regions and to carry out rescue efforts. It is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population.
This is not the first time South Korea has experienced such devastating rainfall. Just last year, the capital city of Seoul faced record downpours that resulted in flooding of homes, roads, and subways, causing the death of at least nine people.
Scientists have attributed the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events in East Asia to the human-caused climate crisis. As this crisis worsens, the likelihood of extreme weather events such as heavy rain and flooding will continue to rise.
This recent bout of heavy rains in South Korea comes shortly after neighboring Japan also experienced severe flooding. At least six people were killed and 19 injured in Japan due to torrential rain. The Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, located on Kyushu, the country’s third largest island, were issued emergency warnings by the country’s weather agency.
Just a few weeks ago, southwest China also faced flooding as a result of heavy downpours. At least 15 people lost their lives in the city of Chongqing due to the flooding.
It is evident that the impact of extreme weather events is being felt across East Asia. It is crucial for governments and communities to come together to address the challenges posed by these events and work towards sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.