SEOUL, July 15 (Reuters) – At least 22 people were killed, 14 were missing and thousands were evacuated as of Saturday after a third day of heavy rain in South Korea caused landslides and dam overflows.
As of 6 p.m. (0900 GMT), 4,763 people had been evacuated across the country as water overtopped a dam in northern Chungcheong province on Saturday morning, the Interior and Defense Ministry said.
According to provincial officials, evacuation orders from local governments covered more than 7,000 people at various times.
[1/6]A general view shows a landslide caused by rain in Yecheon, South Korea on July 15, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERS
The Korea Meteorological Administration predicts the number will rise as more heavy rain is expected to hit the Korean Peninsula on Sunday.
Korea Railroad Corp said it will halt all slow trains and some bullet trains, while other slow-moving bullet trains may be delayed because landslides, track flooding and falling rocks threaten safety.
A slow-moving train derailed late Friday when a landslide threw mud and sand onto the tracks in northern Chungcheong province, the transport ministry said. The engineer was injured, but no passengers were on board.
In a meeting with government agencies on Saturday, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo called on the military to actively join rescue operations, working with government officials to mobilize equipment and manpower.
Report by Joyce Lee; Editing by Michael Perry and William Mallard
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