Deadly Storm Ravages South Korea: 40 Dead, 10,000 Evacuated, and Countless Trapped in Submerged Vehicles

South Korea is experiencing its most destructive storm of the year, with heavy downpours and floods causing widespread damage and loss of life. The country has been battered by heavy rain for nine consecutive days, resulting in at least 40 deaths, 34 injuries, and over 10,000 people being forced to evacuate their homes.

The central and southern regions of the country have been most severely affected. Rescue workers have been facing significant challenges as they search for survivors amidst landslides, collapsed homes, and submerged vehicles.

In the city of Cheongju, rescue workers, including divers, have been working tirelessly to search for survivors in a muddy tunnel where approximately 15 vehicles, including a bus, were trapped in a flash flood. The government has deployed nearly 900 rescue workers to the tunnel, and so far, 13 bodies have been recovered, with nine survivors being treated for injuries.

The exact number of people in the submerged cars remains unknown. In the southeastern town of Yechon, rescue teams have been conducting extensive searches for survivors after landslides destroyed homes and roads.

Unfortunately, at least nine people have lost their lives, and eight others are still missing. Search teams, comprised of emergency workers, soldiers, and police, have been navigating knee-high mud and debris from destroyed homes in their efforts to find survivors.

The storm has caused significant damage across the country, with nearly 200 homes and 150 roads being damaged or destroyed. Additionally, approximately 28,607 people have been left without electricity in recent days.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued heavy rain warnings for large parts of the country, with torrential rains expected to continue at a rate of up to 3 centimeters per hour in some southern areas.

Central and southern regions could potentially receive an additional 20 centimeters of rain by Tuesday. In response to the disaster, President Yoon Suk Yeol has held an emergency government meeting and called for the hardest-hit areas to be designated as special disaster zones.

This designation would provide additional financial and logistical assistance to aid in relief efforts. The situation continues to evolve, and the government and rescue workers remain committed to providing aid and support to those affected by this devastating storm.