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Torrential rains kill 8, thousands homeless |
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July 24, 2000
SEOUL (AP) - Daylong torrential rains caused floods and landslides, killing eight people, injuring three and forcing thousands to flee their homes, government officials said Sunday. Up to 39.1 centimeters (15.64 inches) of rain fell Saturday, mostly in Seoul and Kyonggi, a populous province surrounding the capital, Home Ministry officials said. Eight people were killed in landslides, drowning and other related accidents. Almost 1,000 residential buildings were submerged, forcing 2,200 people to evacuate to shelters. All major roads and flights have been operating normally and one section of a major railroad was being repaired. But operations by half of the nation's 128 coast ferries were suspended. The Home Ministry's National Disaster Prevention and Countermeasures Headquarters said about 10,000 government officials were mobilized to deal with possible emergencies. Torrential rains last year killed 89 people and caused 1.2 trillion won (dlrs 1.1 billion) in damage, mostly during the nation's rainy season from late July to early August. |