One person has died and two others were injured after a landslide struck an apartment building in Geoje, South Korea, on Monday morning. The landslide occurred after torrential rains drenched the Gyeongsang province, burying the first floor of the building.
Rescuers were able to pull three people from the debris, but one was later pronounced dead. The incident follows a period of intense rainfall, with Geoje recording 124.5 millimeters of rain in a single hour on Monday, the highest hourly rainfall since record-keeping began in the city in 1972. Over Sunday and Monday, Geoje received more than 400 millimeters of rain.
Social media videos depicted cars submerged in floodwaters as strong currents moved through the streets of Geoje. In response to the heavy rain, city authorities announced the closure of some tourist attractions and the suspension of bus services and household waste collection due to flooded and damaged roads. On Sunday, residents were advised to avoid driving, stay clear of riverbanks, and evacuate to safer locations if necessary.
This event occurs as large areas of East and Southeast Asia have experienced significant rainfall, leading to widespread flooding and landslides in countries including China, Japan, and the Philippines.