Rep. of Korea: Typhoon/Flood/Landslides - Jul 1987

Since 16 July, two devastating catastrophes have hit the Republic of Korea, namely Typhoon Thelma, and the heavy storms resulting in floods and landslides. Typhoon Thelma, which swept across the southern coast with winds reaching 130 kph, caused enormous devastation. More than 300 people were reported dead or missing and over 20,000 were made homeless. On 22/23 July, torrential non-stop rain fell in Seoul and the central area of Korea for a period of 24 hours (July 22/23) causing widespread havoc and destruction. The Kum river flooded, and the hardest-hit areas were chungchong-nam, Kwangwon, and Kyonggi provinces. Nearly 100 people were listed as dead with 38 missing. Twenty-six thousand people were made homeless and 54,000 hectares of cultivated land were flooded. Houses, roads, and the central infrastructure were again seriously damaged. (UN DHA, 29 Jul 1987)