Severe storms cause flooding, landslides in South Korea
Torrential rain in South Korea caused landslides and flooding, which resulted in the death of more than 40 people.
Nazarene leaders in South Korea are assessing the damage to churches in the country and to the community in the mountainous city of Chuncheon, about 50 miles east of Seoul, where 13 people were killed when a boarding house was swept away. Of the victims, 10 were college students doing volunteer work in Chuncheon.
At least 16 were reported dead when mud and water deluged Umyeon Mountain in southern Seoul.
More than 20 inches of rain have fallen on Seoul since Tuesday; 11 inches on Wednesday alone. Traffic came to a standstill on the country’s busiest roadways and thousands of workers are repairing housing and railroad tracks.
Police have declared as state of emergency in the capital of Seoul, and along with emergency services and the military, are contributing to disaster management efforts and the search for missing people. Officials expect the death toll to climb and expect flood waters to damage or destroy hundreds if not thousands of homes.
The South Korea Church asks for prayer as it seeks opportunities to minister to those impacted by these severe weather conditions and for the safety and well-being of Nazarene families.
--Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Asia-Pacific