Nine bodies recovered from flooded tunnel

Rescuers working to reach vehicles trapped in a flooded tunnel near the South Korean city of Cheongiu have recovered nine bodies.

Flood water caused by days of torrential rain poured into the underpass so quickly that passengers and drivers were trapped in their cars, unable to escape.

At least 37 people have died in total after flooding, landslides and power cuts across much of the country.

Nine people are still missing.

It is unclear how many people are still trapped in the 685-metre long tunnel.

The victims' families say the deaths might have been prevented had the local authorities responded effectively.

Several local media outlets reported that a few hours before the tragedy the river flood control office had issued a warning about the alarming water levels, and therefore the traffic around the tunnel area should have been diverted.

Most of the other fatalities were in the mountainous North Gyeongsang region, where landslides swept away whole houses.

Source: BBC