18 killed, 9 missing after heavy rains, landslides in S. Korea
Eighteen people have been killed and nine others remain unaccounted for following heavy rains and landslides that began ravaging the country last week, the government said Monday, Yonhap reports.
The casualties as of 9 p.m. Sunday include 10 dead in the southern county of Sancheong, two in the northern county of Gapyeong and two in the western city of Seosan, according to the interior ministry.
Four of the missing were reported in Sancheong, while another four were reported in Gapyeong.
More than 14,000 people have taken shelter across 15 major cities and provinces since the heavy rains started last Wednesday.
Property damage has been extensive, with 1,999 cases reported at public facilities and 2,238 cases reported at private facilities as of 6 p.m. Sunday.
The state weather agency has forecast more rainfall through Monday morning in South Jeolla Province, South Gyeongsang Province and the southern island of Jeju.
North Jeolla Province and North Gyeongsang Province are expected to see rainfall starting at 9 a.m., while the capital area and the Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces are forecast to receive rain in the afternoon.
The government has lifted all heavy rain advisories and, on Sunday, lowered the warning level from "serious" to "attention."
As reported previously, South Korea's Lee Jae Myung ordered a swift declaration of special disaster zones over rain damage.