Torrential rain pounds South Korea for third day as thousands take shelter

More than 5,000 people in South Korea have taken refuge in shelters as relentless rainfall continues to batter parts of the country for a third consecutive day, resulting in at least four deaths and significant damage to infrastructure, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Friday.

Heavy rain warnings remain in place across much of the country's western and southern regions, with the Korea Meteorological Administration urging residents to remain on high alert for potential landslides and flooding through Saturday.

In the southern city of Gwangju and surrounding areas, more than 400 millimetres (16 inches) of rain fell within a 24-hour period, marking a record level of precipitation, the ministry reported.

Four fatalities have been confirmed, and one person remains unaccounted for. Two victims were trapped in vehicles submerged on flooded roads, while another lost their life in a basement inundated by floodwater in South Chungcheong Province. Additionally, a motorist died on Wednesday in Osan, approximately 44 kilometres (27 miles) south of Seoul, when a 10-metre-high roadside wall collapsed onto their car, according to the fire department.

President Lee Jae Myung, who has consistently emphasised the need for stronger disaster preparedness, acknowledged that while natural disasters are unavoidable, better anticipation and early warnings could help reduce harm. Speaking at an emergency weather response meeting, he said, “Some casualties could have been prevented with more effective responses in situations that were fairly foreseeable,” and instructed authorities to mobilise all available resources.

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