13 bodies have been recovered from the flooded road tunnel in the city of Cheongju, South Korea. In total, over 40 people have died linked to the extreme weather that hit the country – and President Yoon Suk Yeol is now calling for action to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis on the weather.
– These types of extreme weather events will become commonplace… We must accept that climate change is happening – and deal with it.
Over 40 people have died in connection with the heavy downpours that created floods in South Korea. On Monday, the country’s president announced that he is preparing a visit to one of the worst-hit areas in the northern province of Gyeongsang.
Authorities in the central city of Cheongju announced that 13 people have so far been confirmed dead after their vehicles got stuck in a 685-meter-long road tunnel.
Up to 15 vehicles, including a bus, were stuck in the tunnel as it quickly filled with water after a nearby river flooded on Saturday night. According to rescue workers on site, the tunnel must have been flooded in three minutes.
Around 900 rescue workers, including divers, have been working at the tunnel over the weekend and a total of nine people have been rescued from the waters.
Many dead in landslides
In southeastern South Korea, hundreds of rescue workers are trying to find survivors after a landslide buried houses and roads in the city of Yechon. Nine people have been found dead and many are missing.
The heavy rains have continued for nine days and the South Korea Meteorological Institute warns that they will continue. During Tuesday, another 20 centimeters of rain is expected in the already hard-hit southern and central parts of the country.
The South Korean government held an emergency meeting on Monday and President Yoon Suk Yeol said the country was mobilizing all available rescue resources, including the military and police, to help victims. He also said that this type of extreme weather will become more common.
– We have to accept that climate change is happening and deal with it, said Yoon Suk Yeol before a visit to the flood-affected Gyeongsang province.