SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: South Korean rescuers on Sunday pulled nine bodies from a flooded road where about 15 cars were stuck in muddy water, as the storm caused flash floods and landslides and destroyed homes across the country.
At least 37 people have died and thousands have been displaced since July 9, when the typhoon began pounding parts of central South Korea.
About 900 rescuers including refugees are searching the tunnel in central Cheongju, where vehicles, including a bus, were swept away by flooding Saturday evening, Seo Jeong-il, head of the city’s fire department, said in a briefing.
Fire officials say the tunnel filled with water within two to three minutes.
Photos and videos from the scene showed rescue workers setting up a perimeter and pumping brown water out of the road as various people used rubber boats to get in and out of the area.
Yang Chan-mo, an official at the North Chungcheong Provincial Fire Department, said it would take several hours to drain all the water from the road, which was filled with 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16.4 feet) of water. mud and other debris. Workers were moving slowly to prevent any victims or survivors from being swept away, Yang said.
Nine survivors were rescued from the road and about 10 others appear to be missing based on reports from families or others, but the number of people trapped in vehicles was not known, Seo said.
More than 60 cm (23.6 inches) of rain was measured in the South Chungcheong province towns of Gongju and Cheongyang since July 9. Cheongju, where the canal is located, received more than 54 cm (21.2 inches) in the same period.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could still receive up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain through Tuesday.
More than 8,850 people were evacuated and 27,260 households were without electricity in the last few days. The rain damaged or destroyed about 50 roads and more than 100 buildings, the interior and defense ministry said. At least 35 people were treated for injuries.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a trip to Europe, discussed the rain damage and damage in an emergency meeting while traveling to Poland by train after visiting Ukraine on Saturday, according to his office. Mr. Yoon asked the government authorities to gather all available resources to deal with the disaster.
At least 37 people have died and thousands have been displaced since July 9, when the typhoon began pounding parts of central South Korea.
About 900 rescuers including refugees are searching the tunnel in central Cheongju, where vehicles, including a bus, were swept away by flooding Saturday evening, Seo Jeong-il, head of the city’s fire department, said in a briefing.
Fire officials say the tunnel filled with water within two to three minutes.
Photos and videos from the scene showed rescue workers setting up a perimeter and pumping brown water out of the road as various people used rubber boats to get in and out of the area.
Yang Chan-mo, an official at the North Chungcheong Provincial Fire Department, said it would take several hours to drain all the water from the road, which was filled with 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16.4 feet) of water. mud and other debris. Workers were moving slowly to prevent any victims or survivors from being swept away, Yang said.
Nine survivors were rescued from the road and about 10 others appear to be missing based on reports from families or others, but the number of people trapped in vehicles was not known, Seo said.
More than 60 cm (23.6 inches) of rain was measured in the South Chungcheong province towns of Gongju and Cheongyang since July 9. Cheongju, where the canal is located, received more than 54 cm (21.2 inches) in the same period.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could still receive up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) of rain through Tuesday.
More than 8,850 people were evacuated and 27,260 households were without electricity in the last few days. The rain damaged or destroyed about 50 roads and more than 100 buildings, the interior and defense ministry said. At least 35 people were treated for injuries.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a trip to Europe, discussed the rain damage and damage in an emergency meeting while traveling to Poland by train after visiting Ukraine on Saturday, according to his office. Mr. Yoon asked the government authorities to gather all available resources to deal with the disaster.