Search in Sancheong continues for men swept away by floodwaters

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Search in Sancheong continues for men swept away by floodwaters

Published: 21 Jul. 2025, 17:04 Updated: 21 Jul. 2025, 20:11

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Firefighters dig through a pile of dirt searching for a missing person in Mogo Village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, on July 21. On July 19, a man in his 70s went missing after being swept away by landslides during the worst rain in history in the region. [AN DAE-HUN]

SANCHEONG, South Gyeongsang — In the wake of record-breaking rains that have killed at least 10 people in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, firefighters and villagers pressed on Monday to locate survivors, combing through mud, rocks and wreckage with whatever tools they could find — including bamboo sticks and borrowed wooden beams.

The scene in Mogo Village was one of exhaustion and urgency. Around 7 a.m., about 20 firefighters worked ankle-deep in mud, wielding shovels, rakes, and improvised pike poles to search for a man in his 70s who went missing Saturday during the deluge. Another team, some 500 meters (546 yards) away near the river, worked in the same conditions.

“There were simultaneous flood disasters across Sancheong, so we’re short on equipment and even using wooden sticks to search,” said a firefighter on-site.

The village, home to about 80 residents, was left in ruins by the landslide. Among those helping were around 10 villagers in their 50s and 60s, determined to locate their missing neighbor.

“My legs sank so deeply into the ground that I developed a skin rash on my right calf,” said Park In-soo, the village head, who recalled how the missing man had evacuated to the village hall with his wife — only to return home briefly just 10 minutes before disaster struck.

The search in Mogo Village was part of a broader operation spanning four locations: Mogo-ri, Bangmok-ri, Yulhyeon-ri and Oesong-ri. According to the county’s command center, 172 firefighters were mobilized across four sites, each team consisting of 35 to 50 first responders, supported by police and military personnel.

The missing individuals, all men in their 60s to 80s, were believed to have been swept away by mudslides triggered by the torrential rain.

Efforts have been slow, as crews grapple with expanding search zones and limited equipment. Heavy machinery like excavators is being used to clear soil, trees and boulders, while thermal drones and search dogs were deployed to aid the effort.

“We are using every resource available,” said a fire official. “We hope to find all the missing people as soon as possible.”

Firefighters dig through a pile of dirt searching for a missing person in Mogo Village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, on July 21. [AN DAE-HUN]

As the situation stretched into a third day, Park Wan-soo, governor of South Gyeongsang, accompanied President Lee Jae Myung on a visit to the devastated area, appealing for swift government support.

“We urgently need national assistance for the search, aid for displaced residents and permanent reconstruction,” Park told Lee, requesting that Sancheong, Hapcheon, Uiryeong and other hard-hit areas be declared special disaster zones. Lee promised a rapid decision.

As of Sunday 9 p.m., the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported 18 dead and nine missing nationwide from the weekend's heavy rainfall. Sancheong accounted for 10 deaths; others were reported in Gapyeong, Seosan, Osan, Pocheon, Dangjin and Gwangju.

Nearly 10,000 households — over 14,000 people — were forced to evacuate nationwide. Public facility damage, including flooded roads and collapsed river structures, was tallied at 1,999 cases, with private property damage reaching 2,238 cases.

Firefighters search for a missing person in Mogo Village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, on July 21. [NEWS1]

Firefighters prepare for an inspection of nearby mountains in search of a missing person in Mogo Village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang, on July 21. [AN DAE-HUN]

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY AN DAE-HUN, KIM MIN-WOOK [[email protected]]