At least 18 people have been killed and nine others remain missing after days of torrential rain battered South Korea, triggering landslides, flash floods, and widespread devastation across central and southern regions, authorities said Monday.
As the skies cleared and rainfall advisories were lifted, the national weather agency warned of an impending heatwave expected to grip southern parts of the country later this week, raising fresh concerns for already affected communities.
The relentless downpours, which began on July 16, unleashed some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record in several provinces. Entire homes were swept away, roads washed out, and riverbanks burst, leaving a trail of destruction across at least 15 cities and counties.
One of the worst-hit areas was Sancheong County in the southern region, where 10 people were confirmed dead and four remain missing, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. In the northeastern town of Gapyeong, a man died after his home collapsed, while another camper was found dead near a swollen stream. His wife and teenage son are still unaccounted for.
Elsewhere, a man in his 70s was buried in a landslide and is among those reported missing.
The disaster has forced over 14,000 residents to evacuate, Yonhap News Agency reported, with thousands of public and private properties sustaining significant damage. Nearly 2,000 public facilities and 2,200 homes and businesses have reported destruction or serious flooding.
In response to the escalating crisis, the South Korean military has deployed 2,500 troops to assist recovery operations across the worst-hit regions, including Gwangju, South Chungcheong, and South Gyeongsang provinces. Soldiers are working alongside emergency crews to clear debris, repair homes, and restore basic infrastructure.
While rainfall has eased, the Korea Meteorological Administration has urged citizens to brace for high temperatures and humidity, especially in southern areas, which may further strain recovery efforts and pose new health risks.
As search and recovery operations continue, government officials say more extreme weather could follow in the coming weeks — a growing reminder of South Korea’s vulnerability to climate-driven natural disasters.
