Heavy monsoon rains that hit South Korea in the last days they are already leaving 22 dead, dozens missing, thousands evacuatedwhile the authorities fear that there may be more victims due to landslides and a flooded tunnel with several cars inside in the center of the country.

Most of the deaths were due to landslides, with 16 deaths reported in southeast of North Gyeongsang Province and six more in South Chungcheong, in the center of the country, according to the Disaster and Emergency Command.

In Cheongju, a city about 100 kilometers southeast of Seoul, a man drowned after a tunnel flooded.

Firefighters managed to save nine people that they were also in their cars in the very underpass, which was flooded very suddenly.

However, there are fears that there are more deaths in this tunnel, since at least 11 people who were in fifteen cars stuck inside are still missing.

In Chungju itself and neighboring Gyosan county, about 6,400 residents remain evacuated due to the spill of the main dam in the area.

In turn, more 4,700 people also remain in shelters. in other parts of South Korea, where more than 130 roads are closed and all rail travel through the center of the country remains suspended except for some high-speed trains.

In North Gyeongsang, where at least nine have gone missing, about 8,300 households are also reported to have been left without power.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) maintains the highest level of rain warning throughout the country, focusing on the central and southwestern regions, and warning of heavy rainfall. They will last until Wednesday, July 19.

EFE