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Flooding and mudslides in South Korea

4 August 2011

Flooding and mudslides in South Korea

Dozen of roads have been closed and mobile phone reception has been badly affected, while hundreds of homes in Seoul have been flooded. If you're working in the area click here for further information...

Torrential rain fell on northern and central regions of South Korea, including Seoul, on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th July.

The rain has caused flash flooding and a number of landslides, causing the death of at least 67 people. Several people are currently unaccounted for. It is estimated that more than 500mm (19.5 inches) of rain fell on Seoul in 24 hours, the worst storm since 1907.

Dozen of roads have been closed and mobile phone reception has been badly affected, while hundreds of homes in Seoul have been flooded. Over 60,000 homes remained without electricity late on Wednesday 27th and 4,500 people had been forced to flee their homes in the capital.

In the mountain resort of Chuncheon to the east of Seoul, a landslide destroyed three small hotels, killing at least 16 people and injuring 26. Another landslide occurred on the slopes of a steep mountain on the outskirts of Seoul, which buried several houses and caused the death of at least 15 people.

Five people were killed when a tributary of the Han river overflowed in Gonjiam about 30 miles south east of Seoul. Several bridges over the Han river which flows through the centre of Seoul have been closed.

The Defence Ministry has warned of the dangers of landmines which have been uncovered or moved by the landslides. These include 10 landmines buried near an air defence artillery unit at Mount Umyeon in southern Seoul have not been recovered following a mudslide. These landmines were placed in the area during the 1950-53 Korean War. In an ammunition depot in Yangui to the north of Seoul, explosives (including landmines) were swept away in a mudslide and these too are currently unaccounted for.

 

For further information please read the following information sheets on our Travel Health Advice Centre.

  • Diarrhoea and dysentery
  • Flooding related health dangers
  • Insect protection
  • Leptospirosis
  • Landmines and cluster munitions

Sources: Reuters, AlertNet, BBC News online

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