At least 22 people have been killed and 14 were missing as heavy rains flooded South Korea, as a third day of torrential rains caused landslides and the overflow of a dam.
Almost 5,000 people had been evacuated nationwide, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, as water overtopped the dam in North Chungcheong province this morning.
Local governments' evacuation orders covered more than 7,000 people at various times, according to provincial authorities.
The tally is expected to rise as more heavy rain is expected on the Korean peninsula tomorrow, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted.
All regular train service nationwide was suspended, although KTX bullet trains remained operational with potential schedule adjustments, according to the Korea Railroad Corporation.
A slow train derailed late yesterday when a landslide threw earth and sand over tracks in North Chungcheong province, the transport ministry said. The engineer was injured, but no passengers were on board.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged officials to respond to river overflows and landslides "preemptively", and requested support for rescue operations from the defence ministry.
