At least 38 killed due to heavy rain amid approaching Typhoon Jangmi

Aug 10, 2020, 08:47 am

AsiaToday reporter Lee Joo-hyung

At least 38 people have died, and 12 remain missing after 47 days of downpour in South Korea, making this monsoon season the deadliest in nine years since 2011 when 78 people died or went missing.

As more rain is expected this week with Typhoon Jangmi, the season’s fifth tropical cyclone, approaching the peninsula, weather authorities advised people to take extra precautions and warned of additional loss of life and property damage.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 38 people have been confirmed dead, with 12 others still missing nationwide as of Sunday due to the heavy rains since June 24. The death toll did not include the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident. The casualties from the last three days of heavy rainfall in southern South Korea include 13 dead, 2 missing and 1 injured.

More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes. More than 11,700 cases of damage to facilities and infrastructure were reported, including 7,000 public facilities such as roads and bridges, while damage was also reported to 4,696 private facilities and 14,744 hectares of farmland. The CDSCH said emergency recovery work on damaged properties and roads is around three-quarters complete.

A total of 124 roads and passes nationwide have been restricted to traffic, and 607 tracks at 21 national parks have been barred access.

Six railways across the country, including the Chungbuk, Taebaek, and Yeongdong lines, have been completely or partially blocked as of Sunday morning.

A week of devastating torrential rain caused landslides in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province last week as soil density and strength weakened. A landslide occurred in Jangsu Country, North Jeolla Province, and buried one house, killing two people.

Five homes were buried in a landslide on Friday from a mountain behind a village in Gokseong, South Jeolla Province, killing five people.

What’s even worse, South Korea will come under direct influence of Typhoon Jangmi, formed early Sunday southwest of Okinawa. The typhoon is moving northeast and expected to strike the southeastern region of South Gyeongsang Province on Monday with strong winds and heavy downpours.

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