Woman clings on for dear life as violent floods sweep across South Korea killing at least 19

 

This is the incredible moment a frightened woman is helped on to the bonnet of her car to escape rushing water that would sweep her away to almost certain death.

South Korea is trying to cope with 24 hours of unprecedented torrential rain that has killed at least 19 and caused widespread floods, blocked roads and swept away buildings in and around its capital Seoul.

One devastating landslide caused by the water has obliterated a mountain resort this morning killing 13.

The wave of earth swept through Chuncheon, 100km from Seoul, destroying several buildings, including two small hotels, officials said.

Ten of the 13 killed there were students who had been doing voluntary work and were staying in a resort cabin when the mud and debris engulfed them.

A married couple and a convenience store owner were also killed.

About 500 officials and residents worked to rescue people trapped in the mud and wreckage, and twenty-four people were badly injured injured.

In southern Seoul, six people were killed when a wave of mud crashed through residential areas at the foot of a mountain, said city official Lee Sun-myeong.

One person was reported to be missing, reportedly a child.

Wild weather has battered the Korean peninsula causing widespread flooding and transport delays, while the share price of insurers fell on fears that damage costs would run into millions of dollars.

At Chuncheon rescue workers were still sifting through the muddy rubble of the wrecked hotels, restaurant and coffee shop searching for missing people.

'We were asleep and suddenly I heard a big sound, and then the ceiling fell down,' Lee Beon-seok, a student, told local television.

A local resident reported that as the landslide approached it sounded like a fast train.

'And then I heard someone shouting "help me". So I went out to see, and I saw a landslide had swept all over the area,' she said.

Officials said about 20 people were injured when the wall of mud crashed into the buildings near the Soyang River Dam just after midnight.

Local media reports said 35 college students and some 40 tourists were staying at the small hotels.

Over the past 24 hours 400 mm (16 inches) of rain has been dumped on the capital Seoul, causing flash floods, landslides and bridge closures.

A blackout hit the south of the city, suspending train services.

 

Subway stations in Seoul were turned into swimming pools, stranded commuters said.

Emergency workers said today at least four people were killed in other accidents related to the severe weather across the area.

Officials are worried as weather experts say more heavy rain was forecast for the next 48