[1/4]A view of a street flooded by a flooded river caused by heavy rain in Cheongju, South Korea, July 15, 2023. Yonhap/via Portal
SEOUL, July 15 (Portal) – Seven people have died in South Korea on Saturday, three are missing, seven injured and thousands have been evacuated, officials said, when a third day of heavy rains led to landslides and a dam overflowing.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Security, 1,567 people had been evacuated across the country as of 11 a.m. (02:00 GMT), and the number could rise if water floods the dam in North Chungcheong province.
According to provincial authorities, local government evacuation orders included more than 7,000 people at different points in time.
As of 9 a.m., more than 2,700 tons of water per second was flowing into the Goesan Dam, the maximum that it can discharge.
Korea Railroad Corp said all slow trains and some high-speed trains would be halted, while other high-speed trains may be delayed due to slower service as landslides, track flooding and falling rocks threatened safety.
A slow-speed train derailed late Friday when a landslide threw dirt and sand across the tracks in north Chungcheong province, the transportation ministry said. The train driver was injured, but there were no passengers on board.
At a meeting with government agencies on Saturday, Premier Han Duck-soo urged the military to actively engage in rescue operations and work with government officials to mobilize equipment and manpower.
Reporting by Joyce Lee; Edited by Michael Perry and William Mallard
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