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

Also here on the local front.

Rescue and recovery operations continue in rain-ravaged regions amid the sweltering heat while relief assistance is being provided to those who remain unable to return home.

Shin Ha-young has the latest.

Heavy rain that began last Wednesday continued for five days, but despite current 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, while 9 remain missing nationwide.

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

Four others remain missing.

The latest confirmed fatalities were 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 halted after sunset on Monday, resumed at 7 AM on Tuesday.

Approximately 250 personnel are participating, 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.

"I've lived over 70 years, but I've never seen floods like these. I don't even know who to talk to about it. I just feel like breaking down in tears. I really hope someone can help us."

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.

In a separate case, a man in his 70s in Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do Province, was found dead on Tuesday, three days after he was reported missing.

Officials said the case is not counted as a disaster-related casualty, as he had crossed a restricted area and approached the river on his own.

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

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