According to the reports on Monday (21 July), torrential rains that began on Wednesday (16 July) in South Korea brought some of the heaviest hourly rainfall on record to central and southern provinces, leading to widespread destruction. At least 18 people were confirmed dead and nine others remained missing, with incidents including landslides, collapsed homes, and flash floods that swept away cars and campers. The county of Sancheong saw the highest death toll, with 10 dead and four still unaccounted for. In Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, one house collapse killed a person, while a camper was swept away along with his family, two of whom are still missing.
More than 14,000 people were evacuated from their homes across 15 cities and provinces due to the extreme weather. South Korea’s military responded by deploying around 2,500 personnel to areas including Gwangju, South Chungcheong, and South Gyeongsang to help with recovery and repairs. Damage was extensive, with nearly 2,000 public facilities and over 2,200 private homes and buildings affected. Authorities lifted rain advisories but continued to monitor the situation closely due to ongoing risks.
Experts pointed out that the timing of the rains took many by surprise, as monsoonal downpours had been expected to come earlier in the season. According to Professor Hannah June Kim of Sogang University, local regions were unprepared because of these shifting patterns, which reflect the intensifying impact of climate change. The current crisis mirrors a similar one in 2022, when record-breaking rains claimed at least 11 lives, including victims trapped in semi-basement apartments, made globally recognizable by the film Parasite.
As the rainfall wanes, South Korea’s Meteorological Administration has warned of an incoming heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar above seasonal averages. Warnings have already been issued for regions including South Jeolla, Gangwon’s east coast, and Jeju Island. Scientists continue to highlight climate change as a driving factor behind these increasingly frequent and severe weather events, stressing the urgent need for preparedness and adaptation across vulnerable regions.
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South Korea reels from deadly rains as heatwaves loom and climate concerns mount
