Death toll rises to 17 in South Korea as rains cause landslide and floods

Two people were confirmed dead and five missing in Gapyeong, South Korea, on Sunday, after heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding, raising the country’s storm-related death toll to 17.

Severe rainfall continued to affect South Korea over the weekend, with a landslide in the north-eastern county of Gapyeong engulfing campsites and houses. A man in his 40s was found dead, and two of his family members were reported missing.

Rescue teams worked to assist 24 stranded individuals, with dramatic footage showing a person being rescued via zipline across a river. A separate video showed a helicopter airlifting another person from the affected area.

In total, since the rain began on Wednesday, at least 17 people have died and 11 remain missing across the country. More than 13,000 residents have been evacuated due to flooding and landslips.

President Lee Jae Myung has called for an immediate assessment of damage and the designation of special disaster zones to enable faster aid and state-level assistance.

According to meteorological authorities, the rainfall is expected to ease by Sunday, followed by a heatwave across the region. The weather system that had primarily affected southern areas shifted northwards overnight.

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