Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |

South Korea has recorded highest number of causalities and destruction due to heavy rainfall during the monsoon season within 12 years compiled by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

At least 41 has died and 9 are missing due to the flooded water in the underpass tunnel at Cheongju as well as the other three provinces reported by the Interior and Safety Ministry on Monday.

A total of 49 persons have been reported missing since July 9 to July 17 and the number of dead is expected to rise as the rescue operations are still underway at the disastrous zone of underpass tunnel in Osong-eup, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.

The Osong underground roadway was started flooding on Saturday caused by the overflowed Miho.river passing nearby that crossed its water boundary line due to heavy rain left one bus and 17 vehicles and two trucks struck into the water.

Not only that over 10,000 residents have been forced to evacuate because of flooding and landslides said the South Korean authorities.

Fire authorities are continually doing their best for the drainage and search operations by mobilizing 486 personnel and 81 pieces of equipment. 

Nationwide, the heavy monsoon rains caused disaster and emergency situations including the damage of public facilities, river embarkment, road damage, falling rocks and landslides. Several hundreds of private houses are severely affected by the flood with 139 houses submerged and 53 of them reported to be destroyed or lost.

More than 26,893 hectares of crops farmland have been damaged or flooded, over 180 hectares of agricultural land swept away experienced facility damage or have been swept away.

 About 579,000 livestock -- including cows, pigs and chickens have been died according to the Ministry. 

Moreover, the Korean railway Corporation, KORAIL announced the suspension of train services to flood-affected areas, including the railway line serving North Chungcheong Province for the duration of one month or possibly more. 

Still, most regions of the country are expected to experience 100 to 200 millimeters of heavy rainfall on Wednesday due to the influence of a stationary front and atmospheric pressure, said the national weather service of South Korea.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, North and South Chungcheong, North and South Jeolla, North and South Gyeongsang, and Jeju Island are forecasted to experience the heavy rainfall.

“Since torrential rains started hitting the nation from July 9, and additional heavy rain is expected through Wednesday, there is a high possibility of additional disasters, so people must pay attention to safety, especially in dangerous areas,” the KMA said.

There will be a temporary pause in the rainfall on Thursday and Friday will be "crucial for rescue operations and emergency rehabilitation." 

But the country will experience heavy rainfall once again from Saturday. Therefore, the weather agency called for continued caution and preparation in order to minimize damage from the rains, as "from Saturday, it is forecast to rain again across the country as the stationary front moves north.”