South Korea Mudslides Dislodge Land Mines

July 29, 2011 from Al Jazeera English

Hundreds of South Korean troops have been deployed to search for land mines following mudslides. The mines were planted decades ago on Seoul's Mount Umyeon to thwart any possible land invasion by North Korean troops. More than 50 people have died so far in the heaviest July rainfall recorded in more than 100 years. Al Jazeera's Anu Nathan reports.

(more) (less)

In This Video

South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages. Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea ... Explore this topic

Flash flood

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lakes and basins. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or meltwater from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields. Flash fl... Explore this topic

Mudslide

A mudslide is the most rapid and fluid type of downhill mass wasting. It is a rapid movement of a large mass of mud formed from loose soil and water. Similar phenomena include mudflow, mud stream, debris flow, jökulhlaup, and lahar. These terms cover a broad variety in water c... Explore this topic

Land mine

A land mine is an explosive device, concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass over or near the device. Such devices are typically detonated automatically by way of pressure from the target stepping or driving on it, though o... Explore this topic

Seoul

Seoul, officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world. The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metro... Explore this topic

Severe weather

Severe weather refers to any dangerous meteorological phenomena with the potential to cause damage, serious social disruption, or loss of human life. Types of severe weather phenomena vary, depending on the latitude, altitude, topography, and atmospheric conditions. High winds... Explore this topic

Landslide

A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments. Although the action of gravity is the primary d... Explore this topic

Unexploded ordnance

Unexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded. In the United States UXO, as deﬁned in 10 USC 101, is one of three categories of military mun... Explore this topic

Rain

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then precipitated—that is, become heavy enough to fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the... Explore this topic

Natural disaster

A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some ... Explore this topic

Also See

South Korea

Flash flood

Mudslide

Watch Next

0:30

Channel 4 News | Jul 28

South Koreans were cautioned about rogue landmines and explosives after scores of deadly landslides in and around the capital swamped homes, a mona...