South Korea Reels from Floods and Landslides After Heavy Rains; Wildfire Victims Hit Again

South Korea is grappling with severe flooding and landslides after days of torrential rain caused widespread damage. The downpours, which began on July 17, have resulted in 793 incidents of property damage, including flooded roads and mudslides. In Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, a man in his 40s who was fishing has been reported missing after falling into the water. The Dongbu Expressway in Seoul was closed for over five hours due to the deluge.

The Andong-Uiseong region, still recovering from a recent wildfire, faced new devastation as heavy rains submerged temporary housing for displaced residents. Over 200 millimeters of rain fell in the northern Gyeongbuk region over the weekend, causing roads and rivers to wash out. This led to the evacuation of 420 people from 321 households to community centers and senior centers.

Across the country, 264 people from 192 households in six provinces, including Daegu, Sejong, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Chungnam, and Gyeongbuk, were forced to evacuate due to the risk of river overflow and landslides. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has kept its central disaster response headquarters on alert, anticipating continued heavy rainfall, with forecasts predicting up to 80 millimeters more in various parts of the country through the end of the week.