A powerful landslide triggered by relentless rains buried homes in Sancheong county, South Korea, leaving at least one person dead and three others missing, according to the national fire agency.

Officials said the landslide struck a small village in the southern county, destroying two houses and prompting an urgent evacuation order to all 34,000 residents in the area.

"At least three people have been reported missing and we have recovered one body," an official at Sancheong county fire station told AFP.

Among those unaccounted for are a person in their twenties and an elderly couple in their seventies.

The disaster comes as parts of South Korea continue to experience some of the heaviest hourly downpours on record, based on official weather data. Monsoon rains are typical in July, but this year’s deluge has already led to widespread flooding, casualties, and mass evacuations.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety reported at least four deaths from rain-related incidents nationwide, with more than 7,000 people forced to flee their homes.

While South Korea has systems in place for managing floods during the monsoon season, the intensity of recent storms reflects a growing global trend. Scientists have pointed to climate change as a key factor in the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather.

In 2022, the country was hit by record-breaking rainfall that killed at least 11 people, a stark reminder of the risks posed by a changing climate.