At least 4 dead and 1,300 evacuated after heavy rain in South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Two days of heavy downpours in South Korea have killed at least four people and forced more than 1,300 others to evacuate, officials said Thursday.
One person was killed when their car was buried by soil and concrete after a retaining wall of an overpass collapsed in Osan, just south of Seoul , during heavy rain on Wednesday, the Interior and Safety Ministry said.
Three other people were separately found dead Thursday in a submerged car, a stream, and a flooded basement in southern regions. Ministry officials said they were still investigating whether those deaths were directly caused by heavy rain.
The heavy rain has forced the evacuation of 1,382 people from their homes, the ministry said in a statement, adding 46 flights have been cancelled.
Parts of southern South Chungcheong province have received up to 420 millimeters (16.5 inches) of rain since Wednesday, according to the ministry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Heavy rains in northern China kill 4 as Beijing and nearby areas brace for more
Heavy rains in northern China kill 4 as Beijing and nearby areas brace for more TAISHITUN, China (AP) — Heavy rain and flooding in northern China killed at least four people and left several others missing Monday as tens of thousands of people were evacuated from areas around Beijing where more downpours were forecast. The four victims were caught in a landslide in a rural part of Luanping county in Hebei province near the capital, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Eight people were missing. A resident told the state-backed Beijing News that communications were down and he couldn't reach his relatives. More than 40,000 people were evacuated from outer districts of Beijing and the neighboring city of Tianjin as authorities released water from a reservoir in Beijing's rural Miyun district that was at its highest level since it was built in 1959. Authorities warned people to stay away from rivers downstream as their levels rose and as more heavy rain was forecast. Heavy flooding washed away cars and downed power poles in Miyun district, which borders Luanping county. China's Premier Li Qiang said Monday that the heavy rain and flooding in Miyun caused 'serious casualties,' and called for rescue efforts, according to China's Xinhua News Agency. Uprooted trees lay in piles with their bare roots exposed in the town of Taishitun, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of central Beijing. Streets were covered with water, with mud left higher up on the wall. 'The flood came rushing in, just like that, so fast and suddenly. In no time at all, the place was filling up,' said Zhuang Zhelin, who was clearing mud with his family from their building materials shop. Next door, Zhuang's neighbor Wei Zhengming, a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, was shoveling mud in his clinic; his feet in slippers were covered in mud. 'It was all water, front and back. I didn't want to do anything. I just ran upstairs and waited for rescue. I remember thinking, if no one came to get us, we'd be in real trouble,' said Wei. Beijing authorities launched a top-level emergency response at 8 p.m. Monday, ordering people to stay inside, closing schools, suspending construction work and stopping outdoor tourism and other activities until the response is lifted. The heaviest rain in Beijing was expected early Tuesday, with rainfall of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) forecast for some areas. CCTV reported that more than 30,000 people were evacuated from Beijing districts, including about 6,400 from Miyun where the reservoir is located. Another 10,000 people were evacuated from the nearby Jizhou district under the city of Tianjin, Xinhua reported. The central government said in a statement it had sent 50 million yuan (about $7 million) to Hebei and dispatched a high-level team of emergency responders to help the affected cities, which include Chengde, Baoding and Zhangjiakou. Beijing and Hebei suffered severe flooding in 2023. ___ Moritsugu reported from Beijing. Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang in Taishitun, China, writer Huizhong Wu in Bangkok and Fu Ting in Washington contributed. Ken Moritsugu And Mahesh Kumar, The Associated Press
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Weekend flooding in Lancaster damaged roads, apartments, businesses. What to know
Officials in Lancaster continue to survey damage after heavy weekend rains across central Ohio flooded homes and washed away sections of roads. The July 26 and 27 storms prompted rescues at area apartments and a dog boarder, officials said. They caused flooding that closed roads and displaced residents. The floodwaters began to recede early July 28, but officials were bracing for more rain in the forecast and the possibility of more flooding. Fairfield County EMA Director John Kochis was out the morning of July 28 with teams surveying the damage from the floods. He said they are working to assess damage and plan to seek a disaster declaration from the state. As of midday, he said about a dozen roads remained closed, mostly due to washed-out culverts. Kochis urged people not to drive through flooded roads, saying receding waters have revealed that some stretches of roads were washed away. "Now we've got pictures of, you know, 8-foot wide, just whole sections of road that are gone, and you wouldn't know that if you drove through it (while it was flooded)," he said. The American Red Cross established a shelter at the YMCA at 465 W. 6th St. in Lancaster for impacted Fairfield County residents. Anyone needing assistance as of July 28 should call 1-800-RedCross, the Central and Southern Ohio Red Cross said in a post on X. 'Slow-rising' flood hits Lancaster The storms that prompted the evacuations were part of a system that moved through the region beginning in the mid-afternoon of July 27. Kochis said some homes in the Lancaster area sustained significant damage. Most homes were damaged due to backups in the stormwater system. "In the areas that were impacted ... what we see is the stormwater system either backs up or could not contain that water," Kochis said. "So it's a very slow-rising type of flood." Several area creeks flooded their banks, resulting in flash floods. The Fetters Run, Ewing Run, and Baldwin Run creeks flow into the Hocking River nearby. "These are creeks or runs that are maybe a foot or two deep all summer long," Kochis said. "They could handle a normal rain event, but then one of these comes along every so often." Apartments flooded, concert impacted On July 27, authorities evacuated about 50 people from the Sater Village apartment complex on Sater Drive, Kochis said. The apartment complex is located near the Baldwin Run creek, and the rainfall overwhelmed the complex's private stormwater system. Kochis said all the apartments were evacuated due to concerns about the rising waters, but most of the damage is contained to just four apartments. Pamela Echard, 70, spent time the morning of July 28 sifting through her Sater Village apartment with her family to see what could be salvaged. Water seeped into her home over the weekend, soiling her carpets, soaking her furniture and causing her floors to bow. When she first stepped back inside, she felt terrible, she said. "I couldn't believe it because I just cleaned the floors before I left," Echard said. Echard's granddaughter, Deanna Hodges, said the apartment complex's parking lot was completely underwater earlier. One car was even pushed sideways by the flood waters. Water got into the interior of Echard's car, and it is likely a total loss, Hodges said. A worsening storm also forced officials to evacuate the Lancaster Festival on July 26. A concert was about to start that had attracted 4,000 people, Kochis said. In the end, the damage was limited to "some beach chairs and some coolers," he said. Kochis said the storms serve as an important reminder to residents to ensure that they have proper insurance in the event of a flood. The affected homes were not in a designated floodplain area, so they are not required to carry flood insurance, Kochis said. Some of the areas affected by flooding have lower-income residents. Standard homeowners' insurance policies do not typically cover flood damage. Many rental insurance policies don't either, he added. Some people may rely on nonprofits or "people that will help out of the goodness of their hearts," Kochis said. More storms across central Ohio in Monday's forecast Kochis said July 28 that officials in Fairfield County are on guard for more flooding. They are speaking to the National Weather Service on a sometimes hourly basis, he added. The NWS also has teams on the ground in Lancaster, Kochis said. More thunderstorms are forecast for July 28 across central Ohio, with high temperatures in the low to mid-90s, and the heat index will make temperatures feel like 100 degrees. Flooding threatened dog boarder During the weekend storms, one of the overflowing creeks caused flash flooding that ripped through the Finishing Institute for Dog Ownership dog boarding facility. FIDO evacuated after significant flooding, the business wrote on its Facebook page early in the morning on July 27. Lancaster police and fire personnel, and the Fairfield County Dog Shelter, worked to assist the business. The building suffered "significant" flood damage, with "creek residue" and mud in the parking lot and entry area, the business later wrote on Facebook. One dog, a 3-year-old tan and black dog named Scooby, escaped during the commotion as the business evacuated, according to a missing poster circulated on social media. The business received an outpouring of donations, including new dog beds and blankets, towels and cleaning supplies, the business said in another Facebook post. A resident with a skid steer helped move the dumpster back into place and scraped mud from the parking lot. "We are so blessed to have so many kind souls looking out for us," the business wrote. Dogs boarding with FIDO were brought to the Fairfield County Dog Shelter. The center said in a post on Facebook that pet parents could come to the shelter at 1715 Granville Pike to pick up their dogs. Columbus forecast, severe weather outlook for week of July 28, 2025 Monday: There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 p.m. There will be patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise it will be partly sunny with a high near 92. There will be a calm wind that will start moving southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Between 1/10th and 1/4 inch of rain is expected, except more could fall if there are storms. Monday Night: There is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 74. There will be a light and variable wind. Less than 1/10th of an inch of rain is expected, except more could fall if there are storms. Tuesday: It will be mostly sunny with a high near 94. There will be heat index values as high as 102. There will be a light north wind. Tuesday Night: It will be partly cloudy with a low around 75. There will be a light and variable wind. Wednesday: There is a slight chance of showers, then there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. IT will be mostly sunny with a high near 92. There will be a calm wind that will start moving northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Less than a tenth of an inch of rainfall is expected, except more could fall if there are storms. Wednesday Night: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 69. The chance of precipitation is 40%. Between a tenth and quarter of an inch of rain is expected, except more could fall if there are storms. Thursday: There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms. It will be mostly cloudy with a high near 81. The chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday Night: It will be partly cloudy with a low around 63. Friday: It will be sunny with a high near 81. Friday Night: It will be mostly clear with a low around 60. Saturday: It will be sunny with a high near 82. Saturday Night: It will be mostly clear with a low around 61. Sunday: It will be mostly sunny with a high near 82. Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Lancaster Ohio flooding impacts dog boarder, more rain expected
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
Turkey faces a ‘very risky week' for wildfires as flames also scorch parts of southeast Europe
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey faced a 'very risky week' for wildfires, an official said Monday, as blazes across parts of southeast Europe and the Balkans damaged homes and led to a huge firefighting operation that included evacuations. Nearly 100 people face prosecution over the fires in Turkey. Blazes erupted near Bursa, Turkey's fourth-largest city, over the weekend. A wildfire to the northeast of Bursa had been largely extinguished, but one to the south of the city continued, although its intensity had been 'significantly reduced,' Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters in Ankara. He also said that a fire that has been burning for six days in Karabuk, in northwest Turkey, had also 'been reduced in intensity,' and a blaze in Karamanmaras in the south had largely been brought under control. A wildfire also erupted Monday in forests outside the western port city of Izmir, where 11 aircraft were helping ground-based fire units and residents battle the blaze. 'We are in a very risky week,' Yumakli said of the wildfires. Blaze in Greece In Greece, firefighters raced to tackle a wildfire that broke out Monday near a university campus close to the center of Athens. Water-dropping planes and helicopters buzzed over the city center as they headed to the wildfire near the National Technical University of Athens, located in foothills ringing the Greek capital. In all, 11 planes and eight helicopters were reinforcing 110 firefighters on the ground, the fire department said. Police announced road closures in the area, including to the only highway that circles the city. A waning fire on the island of Kythera, which lies south of the Peloponnese, was reinvigorated by strong winds. Over the weekend, the blaze burned through around 10% of the small island's land mass, triggering the evacuation of several villages. Bulgaria assisted by Turkish firefighters A Turkish firefighting team of 22 personnel and five vehicles crossed the northern border Monday to assist Bulgarian crews fight a large fire near the village of Lesovo, which was evacuated. The blaze was one of hundreds across Bulgaria, the most severe of which was near the southwestern village of Strumyani. The Interior Ministry described the fire as 'extremely large' and 'widespread,' leading to 200 firefighters being withdrawn because of the effects of high winds on the fire. Several villages have been extensively damaged, with dozens of homes burned to the ground. By Monday, 269 fires had been extinguished in the previous 24 hours, the government said. Other European Union countries have responded to Bulgaria's requests for help, sending firefighting helicopters and planes. In several instances, the cause of fires have been determined to be carelessness by people, such as open fires and discarded cigarettes. Senior Interior Ministry official Miroslav Rashkov said that two people had been arrested for deliberately starting fires and would be prosecuted. Volunteer firefighters killed Turkey has been fighting severe wildfires since late June. In Bursa, three volunteer firefighters were killed after their water tanker overturned, local news agency IHA reported. One died at the scene and the two others were pulled from the tanker and hospitalized but died late Sunday. The volunteer crew from the province of Bolu was on its way to the village of Aglasan, northeast of Bursa, to combat a blaze when the vehicle fell into a ditch beside a rough forest track, the agency reported. Separately, officials said earlier Sunday a firefighter died of a heart attack while battling a blaze. The fatalities brought the total deaths over the past month to 17, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in the western city of Eskisehir. The huge blazes around Bursa forced more than 3,500 people to flee their homes. While firefighting teams have contained the damage to a limited number of homes across affected areas in Turkey, vast tracts of forest have been turned to ash. Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fueling the wildfires. Turkey and other parts of the eastern Mediterranean are experiencing record-breaking heat waves. The government had earlier declared disaster areas in two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik. Turkey battled at least 44 separate fires Sunday, Yumakli said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that 99 suspects faced prosecution in relation to the wildfires. Albania fires In Albania, firefighters battled at least six separate wildfires Monday, the defense ministry said. Two weeks of blazes have ravaged thousands of hectares, or acres, of forest in the Balkan country. The areas most at risk were in the northeast, where inaccessible mountain plateaus had water-dropping aircraft carrying out the bulk of the firefighting. In the country's southern region, overnight winds ignited blazes in the municipalities of Delvine and Konispol and in the Himare district on the Adriatic coast, which suffered wildfires last week. Authorities said that at least a dozen people were arrested over the weekend over the wildfires.
