One dead as 800mm rain hits drought-stricken South Korea

At least one person was killed and two others were injured in southern South Korea after torrential rain triggered landslides and flooding in a region that had been suffering from severe drought just days earlier. The deluge, which saw nearly 800 millimeters of rain fall in parts of South Gyeongsang Province over the weekend, prompted evacuations, disrupted transportation, and forced major industries to halt operations.

The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that the coastal city of Geoje received 782.5 millimeters of rain between midnight on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Monday. Nearby Tongyeong recorded 628.9 millimeters, while Sacheon and Namhae received 318 millimeters and 231.3 millimeters, respectively. The rainfall in Geoje alone was close to a third more than London receives in an average year.

The National Fire Agency said a landslide struck an apartment building in the Okpo district of Geoje at approximately 4:32 a.m. on Monday, burying the ground floor. Rescue workers pulled three residents from the debris, one of whom was later pronounced dead at a hospital. A second person was rescued after being buried by a landslide in Tongyeong shortly after 5 a.m.