A devastating landslide caused by intense rainfall has claimed at least one life in South Korea, according to the national fire agency.
Authorities say the disaster struck in Sancheong County, where two houses were buried, leaving three individuals unaccounted for.
“We have recovered one body and received reports of three missing persons,” a representative from the Sancheong County fire station told AFP.
Those missing include a young adult in their twenties and an elderly couple in their seventies.
Local authorities have ordered residents in the area to “evacuate immediately to a safe area,” citing the ongoing threat from the downpours.
Sancheong, which has around 34,000 inhabitants, is among several regions affected by this week’s unusually heavy monsoon rains.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety also confirmed that four deaths nationwide have been linked to rain-related incidents, with over 7,000 people displaced from their homes.
While flooding during South Korea’s summer monsoon season is common, experts are raising concerns that climate change is intensifying the severity of such events.
The country experienced a similar tragedy in 2022, when unprecedented rainfall led to the deaths of at least 11 people.