At least 19 dead, 9 still missing after heavy rain as of 6 AM Tuesday; search efforts continue

At least 19 people have died and 9 are still missing after days of torrential rain caused landslides and flash floods across South Korea.

Recovery efforts resumed this morning, with authorities continuing their full-scale operations.

Our Shin Ha-young starts us off.

With the heavy rain easing, recovery work is picking up speed in South Korea.

Emergency repairs have been completed for about 44 percent of the more than 6,700 damaged homes, roads, bridges, and other facilities across the nation.

"I've been running this business for 10 years. What is this? My fridge, everything, my house too."

Heavy rain began last Wednesday and continued for five days, but despite drier conditions, casualties are still being reported.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of 6 AM Tuesday, at least 19 people have been confirmed dead and 9 remain missing nationwide.

In northern Gyeonggi-do Province, the death toll has risen to four after two missing people were confirmed dead on Monday.

Four others remain missing.

The latest confirmed fatalities include a man in his 70s who went missing in a landslide in Gapyeong-gun County and a man in his 50s who was swept away by a fast-moving stream in Pocheon City.

Search efforts in Gapyeong, which were stopped after sunset on Monday, resumed at 7 AM Tuesday.

Around 600 personnel, similar to Monday's numbers, are expected to participate, with equipment, including helicopters and drones, being deployed.

The situation on site remains difficult, with many roads closed due to flooding or damage.

Several areas are also without electricity, water, or communication, making search efforts challenging.

In Sancheong-gun County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, search operations for the missing have entered their fourth day after heavy rain caused serious damage.

Authorities continued search efforts until 7 PM the previous day and resumed them at 6:40 AM Tuesday.

As of 6 AM, 10 people in the region have been confirmed dead, and 4 remain missing.

The adverse weather also caused the deaths of 3 people in Chungcheongnam-do Province and 1 person in Gwangju City.

More than 14-thousand people nationwide were forced to leave their homes due to the heavy rain, and about 2-thousand-500 of them have yet to return.

Relief supplies, including emergency kits, blankets, temporary shelters, and essential items, are being provided to those affected.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News