A year after South Korea vowed to step up readiness for extreme weather driven by climate change, experts say not enough work has been done even as greater volumes of sudden and torrential rains are expected in coming decades.
in less than a week of heavy rains - including 13 who died when floodwaters trapped them in an underpass in the city of Cheongju - casting doubt on the country's efforts to prepare for localised and intense downpours.
"People like to use expressions such as rapid response, emergency recovery ... but climate disasters are already underway," Jeong said. "This type of extreme weather is going to become the norm so we need to manage it as the norm, and we totally need to get rid of the idea that we can't do anything about unusual circumstances," Yoon told a disaster response meeting.
Cheongju, where the flash flood killed 13, is a recent suburban development, a transport hub serving the administrative capital of Sejong. The area lies next to a river and on Saturday a levee broke in an spot slated for more construction. The past week's victims include 20 killed or missing in mountainous North Gyeongsang province, many from landslides.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
At least 21 dead, thousands evacuated after torrential rain, landslides in South KoreaThousands are displaced and at least 21 people are dead after flooding in South Korea.
Read more »
Landslides and floods kill at least 22 as South Korea battered by torrential rainsTwenty-two people have died, 14 were missing and thousands evacuated in South Korea as of Saturday, according to ministry data, as a third day of torrential rains caused landslides and the overflow of a dam.
Read more »
22 dead after torrential rain, landslides and floods engulf South KoreaDays of heavy rain in South Korea have left at least 22 people dead and 14 others missing in landslides, floods and other incidents, the government said Saturday.
Read more »
Catastrophic Flooding and Landslides Kill 20+ in South Korea'Nowhere is immune any longer from the explosion of extreme weather brought about by the collapse of the climate,' said one scientist.
Read more »
Flooding in South Korea leaves at least 26 dead and 10 missingAt least 22 people were killed and 14 people are missing after up to 22 inches of rain fell on parts of South Korea over a three-day period, triggering landslides and collapsing homes, government officials said Saturday.
Read more »