South Korea Counts the Toll After Deadly Rains: 18 Dead, Thousands Displaced

At least 18 people have died and nine more are still missing after relentless downpours hammered South Korea for days, causing flash floods, landslides, and widespread destruction.

The government lifted heavy rain advisories on Monday, but the damage was already done — and now, the national weather agency warns that scorching heat is about to roll in over the country’s southern regions.

The torrential rains, which began on July 16, dumped record-breaking hourly totals on parts of central and southern South Korea. Entire homes were swept away, hills gave way, and cars and campers were swallowed up by muddy, fast-moving water.

One of the hardest-hit areas was the southern county of Sancheong, where 10 people died and four others remain unaccounted for. Another person was found dead in Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, after their house collapsed. A camper who had been staying near a stream was also swept away and found dead — his wife and teenage son are still missing, according to local media reports.

In the same area, a man in his 70s is feared dead after being buried in a landslide.

Nationwide, more than 14,000 people were forced to leave their homes across 15 cities and provinces, as reported by Yonhap News. Authorities are also dealing with thousands of cases of property damage — nearly 2,000 involving public infrastructure, and more than 2,200 involving private homes and businesses.

South Korea’s military has stepped in, sending about 2,500 troops to help clean up and rebuild in Gwangju, South Chungcheong, and South Gyeongsang provinces. The soldiers are now clearing debris, fixing homes, and trying to get stores back on their feet.

With input from Al Jazeera