1 dead, 1 missing as typhoon approaches

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1 dead, 1 missing as typhoon approaches

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A city bus is trapped in a flood on Monday afternoon in Yongin, Gyeonggi, as torrential rain fell in the region. Gyeonggi Provincial Fire Services said all passengers were safely rescued from the stranded vehicle. [YONHAP]

The national weather agency has issued a typhoon warning as tropical storm Prapiroon was forecast to hit Jeju Island last night before continuing north today, intensifying storms in the region that have already killed at least one person and flooded dozens of houses and cars.

“The typhoon will pass over Seogwipo, Jeju Island, over Monday and reach the Dokdo islets Tuesday afternoon,” the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Monday afternoon, as it issued preliminary typhoon advisories to the southern and coastal areas including Jeju Island, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces and Busan, Ulsan and Daegu cities.

“Central Korea will feel the effects of the typhoon on Monday and southern Korea into Tuesday afternoon, where there will be heavy rainfall, strong winds, thunderstorms and lightning,” it said. “Watch out for your safety.”

The typhoon was formed in the sea south of Okinawa, Japan, on Friday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The eye of the storm reached Okinawa on Sunday and continued to move north on Monday.

Wind speeds on the coast of Jeju Island exceeded 10 meters per second (22 miles per hour) on Monday afternoon, with more than 2,000 fishing boats banned from sailing. The storm will be felt the strongest in Jeju on Monday night and in the southern provinces of Korea early on Tuesday morning, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted Monday.

Flights were canceled or delayed at Gimpo, Jeju and Gimhae airports on Monday morning.

The typhoon is expected to journey northeast toward the sea southeast of Vladivostok, and its impact on southern Korea will weaken by Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

The approaching typhoon brought heavy rainfall.

From Sunday to Monday, 257.5 millimeters (10.1 inches) of rain fell in Seocheon County, 246.5 millimeters in Buyeo County and 234 millimeters in Cheongyang County, all in South Chungcheong. In Gunsan, North Jeolla, 302 millimeters of rain fell, while rainfall was measured at 237.5 millimeters in Boseong County, South Jeolla.

Rainfall from Sunday to Monday amounted to 177 millimeters in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, 160 millimeters in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, and 162.5 millimeters in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

“We have issued heavy rain advisories in the southern Gyeonggi region,” said the Korea Meteorological Administration. “Heavy rainfall of some 30 millimeters per hour is expected in some areas in central Seoul in the afternoon on Monday.”

Over the weekend at least one person was killed and one injured.

A 53-year-old woman was hit by lightning on Saturday at a farm in South Jeolla. She was moved to a hospital immediately but died that night, according to authorities.

A 73-year-old woman was injured from a landslide in Boseong, South Jeolla, on Sunday. She has been treated at a hospital.

A 74-year-old man was reported missing near a bridge in Gwangju, and police conducted a search operation Sunday using helicopters. He had not been found as of Monday afternoon.

In Haenam County, South Jeolla, 10 people were displaced due to flooding.

Over 50 cars were damaged while parked in an apartment complex in Boseong County, and over 60 houses were flooded in Jeju, Gyeonggi, Jeolla and South Gyeongsang regions.

Over 4,250 hectares (10,501 acres) of farmland have been flooded.

The Gyeongjeon Line that connects South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla had to cease operations temporarily on Sunday when a section of the railroad was flooded.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Sunday launched an emergency response meeting to respond to the floods and rain damage.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]
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