"South Korea Floods: Rising Death Toll and Blame for Botched Responses"

The death toll from days of torrential rain in South Korea has risen to 39, with President Yoon Suk Yeol blaming authorities' failure to follow disaster response rules. The heavy rains have caused flooding in the country's central and southern regions, with a dozen people found dead in a submerged underpass. Questions have been raised about the government's efforts to prevent and respond to flood damage, as some drivers blamed the lack of access control to the underpass despite flood warnings. The government had previously vowed to improve its response to climate change-induced disasters. President Yoon called for authorities to prioritize rescue efforts and pledged support for recovery work and affected families.