<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Rescuers in South Korea are struggling to reach cars trapped in a flooded tunnel, following days of heavy rain.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is unclear how many people are trapped, but about 19 vehicles are reported to be in the tunnel in Cheongju, North Chungcheong province.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Across the country, at least 26 people are now known to have been killed and another 10 are missing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the fatalities were in the mountainous North Gyeongsang region, where landslides swept away houses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Local media reported that almost 300mm (11.8in) fell across the country on Saturday. South Korea typically sees 1,000mm (39.4in) to 1,800mm (70.9in) of rainfall a year, according to the Korean Meteorological Association, although much of that does fall during the summer months.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aerial pictures from flood affected areas show brown mud and flood waters so deep, only the tops of roofs can been seen sticking out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thousands of people have been affected by evacuation orders issued by various local governments and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has asked the military to help with the rescue efforts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fire authorities said that the tunnel, in the suburb of Osong in Cheongju, was swamped by a flash flood too quickly for drivers and passengers to escape, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One person is confirmed to have died, while nine others were rescued.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Early on Saturday morning local time, some 6,400 residents were evacuated after the Goesan Dam began to overflow, the agency said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A number of low-lying villages near the dam as well as many of the roads connecting them were submerged, leaving some residents trapped in their homes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Late on Friday, a landslide caused a train to derail in North Chungcheong. One engineer was injured, but luckily the train was not carrying passengers at the time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Korail, the country's national rail operator, has announced the suspension of all slow trains and some bullet trains, and said other bullet services would be disrupted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rainfall through to Wednesday next week. It warned that the weather conditions pose a "grave" danger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Extreme rain has caused floods and landslides across several countries including India, China and Japan over the past fortnight.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While many factors contribute to flooding, scientists say a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The warmer it becomes, the more moisture the atmosphere can hold. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>