South Korea Faces Devastating Floods: 18 Confirmed Dead, Search for Missing Continues

Interior Ministry Vows Swift Recovery Efforts
At least 18 people have lost their lives, and authorities continue their search for nine missing residents after South Korea endured five days of torrential rains.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, operating under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, reported that as of 9 p.m. Sunday, 18 individuals had perished due to landslides, flooding in homes, and submerged vehicles.

Sancheong, situated in western South Gyeongsang Province, bore the brunt of the casualties, with 10 fatalities and four people still unaccounted for. This region experienced the most intense rainfall, accumulating nearly 800 millimeters of precipitation by Sunday.

The emergency headquarters confirmed four deaths in Gyeonggi Province, three in South Chungcheong Province, and one in Gwangju. Officials cautioned that the death toll might rise as search and rescue operations continue in severely affected areas.

By Sunday evening, 14,166 residents from 9,887 households across 15 cities and provinces had been temporarily evacuated, according to the emergency headquarters.

The flooding wreaked havoc on 1,999 public infrastructure sites and 2,238 private facilities nationwide.

The government has pledged its utmost efforts to restore normalcy to the lives of those affected.

\”The Lee Jae Myung administration will swiftly review the designation of special disaster zones and provide special subsidies to fulfill its responsibilities,\” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung stated Monday afternoon. \”We also urge local governments to spare no effort in flood recovery and prevention measures.\”

The designation of special disaster zones allows the government to offer partial financial aid for the restoration of both private and public facilities damaged by the rain and floods. Affected residents will also receive various forms of financial support.

As heavy rainfall alerts were lifted across the country Sunday night, the Interior Ministry began transitioning from emergency response to recovery efforts.

The ministry downgraded its three-stage response system from the highest level and reduced the heavy rain alert from \”severe\” to \”caution,\” the second-highest tier in the four-level system.

Interior Minister Yoon Ho-jung announced that the ministry would support local governments in fully utilizing their resources, such as municipal budgets and tax tools, for recovery efforts. He also pledged assistance to those affected by the heavy rainfall.

The ministry advised local governments to allocate all available financial resources to urgent recovery efforts, including providing relief supplies and temporary housing.

To prevent delays in aid distribution, the ministry requested expedited contract procedures for installing temporary relief facilities and renting equipment. Local governments were informed that public properties like community centers and gymnasiums could serve as free emergency shelters for affected residents.

Displaced residents will receive various forms of financial support, including tax exemptions for new houses, livestock barns, vehicles, and agricultural equipment; reductions in utility fees; and deferred local tax payments.

Tenants of damaged public properties may also be eligible for rent reductions and lease extensions.

In collaboration with tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the ministry has begun deploying free repair teams at the request of local governments.

While temporary service centers will be established in hard-hit areas, on-site visits will be provided in locations with minor damage.

The repair service operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All home appliances manufactured by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are eligible for repair. Residents whose household appliances were damaged by the recent downpours can inquire about free repairs by contacting the companies’ customer service lines.