At least 17 people have died and 11 remain missing after torrential rains battered South Korea over the past five days, government officials reported on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The prolonged heavy downpour caused widespread landslides, flash floods, and structural collapses, with the southern county of Sancheong hardest hit, receiving nearly 800 millimeters (31 inches) of rain since Wednesday. Numerous fatalities occurred in Sancheong, where landslides destroyed homes and infrastructure, leading to ten deaths and several missing persons.
In Gapyeong County, east of Seoul, about 170 millimeters (6.7 inches) of rain fell early Sunday, resulting in two confirmed deaths a woman in her 70s killed by a landslide when her house collapsed, and a man in his 40s found drowned after being swept away by rising waters. Several others remain unaccounted for in Gapyeong and other affected areas, including Gwangju city.
Throughout the week, rescue teams recovered bodies from submerged vehicles and debris-choked roads, reflecting the severity of the flooding. Authorities evacuated thousands of residents from vulnerable areas and issued warnings as the rains eased on Sunday. South Korea’s monsoon season typically occurs in July, but this week's rainfalls have been among the most intense ever recorded in the region.
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events partly to climate change, which has exacerbated flooding risks worldwide. This latest disaster echoes severe floods the country experienced in 2022, which caused significant loss of life and damage.