South Korean Flood Death Toll Reaches 40, President Yoon Highlights Authorities' Response

Floods in South Korea. (Screenshot of Guardian News' YouTube channel)

JAKARTA - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday highlighted the failure of authorities to follow disaster response rules, as the death toll from days of heavy rains rose to 40, including a dozen people were found dead in submerged underpasses.

Floods hit the central and southern regions of Ginseng Country since Thursday, when the rainy season, which began at the end of June, peaked. The interior ministry also reported nine people missing and 34 injured across the country.

Twelve people were killed, including three bodies found last night in a tunnel in Cheongju, 110km (68 miles) south of Seoul, of which 16 vehicles, including a bus, were flooded on Saturday due to a broken river embankment.

The incident sparked questions over South Korea's efforts to prevent and respond to flood damage. Some drivers who often use the road blamed the government for failing to close access to the underpass even though floods were expected.

President Yoon, who recently returned from a trip overseas, held a disaster response meeting, admitting the situation was getting worse due to poor management in vulnerable areas.

"We have repeatedly emphasized access control to dangerous areas and prevention evacuations since last year. But if basic disaster response principles are not maintained, it is difficult to ensure public safety," President Yoon said at the meeting.

President Yoon on Monday flew by helicopter to several devastated areas. Previously, he called for maximum efforts to save the remaining victims and promised assistance to those affected, including establishing flood-hit areas as special disaster zones.

"The government will recover everything, so don't worry too much," said President Yoon after meeting residents in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, a landslide-hit area where 19 people were killed and eight others missing.

Nearly 900 firefighters, police, and military took part in an underpass rescue operation, using boats, underwater drones, and other equipment, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Meanwhile, the fire chief in western Cheongju Seo Jeong-il said at Monday's briefing, while search efforts continued, there were no signs of any more casualties in the remaining vehicles in the tunnels.

The floods have claimed dozens of lives during the recent rainy season, as weather patterns have become more extreme.

The government last year pledged to take steps to cope with disasters caused by climate change better, after heavy rains in 115 years hit Seoul, including the luxury district of Gangnam, leaving at least 14 people dead and flooding subways, roads and houses.