Cold, snow and wind batter Korea over the weekend

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Cold, snow and wind batter Korea over the weekend

Published: 17 Dec. 2023, 14:59 Updated: 17 Dec. 2023, 17:10

Icicles hanging on the branches of trees on the waterfront in Ttukseom Han River Park in Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

A nationwide cold spell resulted in canceled flights, damaged buildings and multiple injuries from traffic accidents over the weekend.

At least 10 flights out of Jeju Island were canceled on Sunday morning due to the cold wave and heavy snow, in addition to over 40 flights already canceled from the island the day before.

Some 20.3 centimeters (7.9 inches) of snow had fallen on Mount Halla as of 9 a.m. Sunday, and between 1.5 centimeters to about 4 centimeters in lowland regions of the island as of Sunday morning, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

At least 70 ships couldn’t leave their docks on Sunday morning in Incheon, Pohang, Ulleung, Nokdong, Geomun, Mokpo and Hongdo ports.

Temperatures on Sunday morning in Gangwon’s Daegwallyeong region dropped to as low as minus 16.8 degrees Celsius (1.76 degrees Fahrenheit) and to minus 12.4 degrees in Seoul, according to the KMA.

The KMA maintained most cold wave advisories and warnings issued nationwide over the weekend through Monday, with temperatures expected to drop as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs on Monday were expected to reach between minus 4 degrees and 4 degrees Celsius.

Crowds of people walking on the streets of Myeong-dong, central Seoul, on Sunday, when the temperautres in the city dropped below minus 10 degrees Celsius. [YONHAP]

More snow was expected along the western coastline, with more snowfall expected through Sunday night in South Chungcheong and Jeolla regions and Jeju.

Some vehicles lost control on the icy roads over the weekend.

On Sunday morning, a 5-ton truck skidded on a highway on the west coast in Seosan, South Chungcheong, hitting the mid-road barrier and falling on its side. Parts of the destroyed barrier hit another car coming from the other direction, resulting in a four-vehicle pileup. A man in his 40s was reportedly injured and hospitalized.

Fifteen cars crashed into each other on a road in Anseong, Gyeonggi, on Saturday, and another nine had accidents on the highway between Seoul and Yangyang County, Gangwon, on Friday. No life-threatening injuries were reported.

Strong winds over the weekend damaged at least 28 buildings in Incheon from Saturday to Sunday morning, as structures atop rooftops or exterior walls of buildings were reported lost or damaged. Winds in Incheon hit 18 meters per second (40 miles per hour) at one point on Saturday, according to the KMA.

One apartment complex in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi, lost power due to strong winds on Saturday, with some 500 households without electricity supply for 11 hours.

In Cheongju, North Chungcheong, moviegoers demanded refunds after short-term power outages at a local theater.

Jeju airport on Sunday morning, when flights were canceled over a cold spell. [YONHAP]

A window pane of a KTX high-speed train cracked in the cold as it was operating between Cheonan Asan Station and Gwangmyeong Station on Saturday. No injuries were reported.

The Korea Railroad Corporation said the exterior window of the train, already weakened in the cold temperatures, appeared to have cracked in a pebble strike.

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday called on the Interior Ministry to ensure that snowplowers and other road maintenance workers remain alert and able to provide services immediately.

He also asked the Health Ministry to take effective measures to protect older people and low-income families from the cold spell.

A cold wave advisory is issued when the morning low falls below minus 12 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 10 degrees Celsius to below minus 3 degrees Celsius. A cold wave warning is issued when the morning low falls below minus 15 degrees Celsius for more than two consecutive days or when the temperature drops more than 15 degrees Celsius to below minus 3 degrees Celsius.

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