South Korea counts cost of Rusa as 88 die and at least 70 are missing

AFTER spending two nights by candlelight, tens of thousands of South Koreans heaved shovels yesterday to clear mud and debris from homes devastated by the worst typhoon to hit the country in 40 years.

The government's National Disaster Prevention and Countermeasures Headquarters said at least 88 people were killed and 70 missing in flash floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Rusa over the weekend.

Authorities were trying to confirm reports by relatives and villagers that another 29 people were swept away by floodwaters or buried in landslides. Local media gave higher death tolls ranging from 132 to 187.