South Korea landslide claims one amid record rain

Torrential rains battered South Korea’s Gyeongsang province, sparking a landslide that buried a first‑floor apartment in Geoje, killing one person and leaving two injured.

Geoje received 124.5mm of rain in a single hour – the highest in the city’s records since 1972 – and more than 400mm overnight. The slide buried the building’s lower level, and rescuers later found a deceased resident among the debris.

The raid coincided with a string of back‑to‑back storms that caused flooding and landslides across China, Japan and the Philippines. In Japan, the deluge left ten dead, damaged power for over 20,000 households and stranded thousands at Narita Airport.

Officials warned residents to avoid driving, steer clear of riverbanks and evacuate under safe conditions. Bus operations and waste collection were suspended on Monday due to flooded or damaged roads, and several tourist sites were closed.

Meteorologists attribute this season’s intensity to a strong El Niño that began in June, which raises global temperatures and strengthens typhoons.

For related coverage, visit the BBC News interactive panel on unprecedented rainfall in Chiba prefecture.