SEOUL, South Korea — Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and eight others missing, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
Aug. 2 (UPI) — SEOUL, South Korea — Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and eight others missing, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
A landslide engulfed a chicken farm in the Gyeonggi Province city of Anseong, about 43 south of Seoul, around 7:10 a.m. and killed a 58-year-old man. Rescue workers found his body buried in the mud at 9:18 a.m. after two hours of searching.
In Chungju, some 65 km southeast of Seoul, a firefighter went missing after being swept away in strong currents. The 29-year-old, identified by his surname Song, was standing next to a stream to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
Also in Chungju, a 56-year-old woman was killed after a landslide enveloped a cowshed and sparked a gas explosion around 10:30 a.m.
A separate landslide in Chungju left another 76-year-old woman dead around 8 a.m., with one more man, aged 59, found dead near a fishing spot in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, at around 11 a.m. He reportedly drowned in a flooded stream, according to officials.
A 62-year-old resident of Eumseong was also swept away in torrents and went missing at 8:30 a.m.
In Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, a 42-year-old camper was found buried in mudslides early Sunday morning. The camper was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.
In nearby Danyang, three people — a woman, her daughter and son-in-law — went missing after being engulfed by torrents.
