Busan residents on high alert as Typhoon Hinnamnor approaches

High-rises in the Haeundae Marine City area in Busan on Monday [YONHAP]

As Typhoon Hinnamnor approaches, residents of high-rises along the coastline in Busan have been put on high alert.

The Marine City in Haeundae District has several apartment towers that have more than 50 floors, making them susceptible to damage from the typhoon, according to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport earlier this year.

“This is the biggest typhoon to ever land in the city since Marine City was constructed,” said a store owner in the area.

“Even a typhoon weaker than Typhoon Hinnamnor caused big damage before,” the store owner said.

Typhoon Maysak and Haishen, which were both less powerful than Hinnamnor, shattered glass and led to flooding in 2020.

Experts anticipate that the wind tunnel effect of Hinnamnor, which causes winds to move faster between two buildings due to close proximity, may worsen damage in the area.

“Wind tunnels caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor will be more powerful than any other typhoons that have landed in the country,” said Kwon Soon-chul, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Pusan National University.

“Damage, such as glass doors on low floors of high-rise buildings shattering, are likely to occur,” Kwon added.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]