On Thursday, Tropical Storm Khanun caused severe flooding in South Korea, resulting in at least one fatality and causing roads to turn into chocolate-colored rivers. It then weakened and reached major urban areas near the capital.
After the storm made landfall on the mainland in the morning, more than a foot of rain was recorded in eastern and southern regions. By the afternoon, emergency workers were responding to growing reports of flooding and landslides.
Emergency workers were able to evacuate more than 15,000 people, mostly in the southern part of the country, as they dealt with issues such as landslides, flood-damaged homes, and rising rivers and streams. As of Thursday night, only 38,000 homes had electricity restored out of 40,300 homes affected by the outages.
Officials have closed down numerous freeways, streets, and public parks in South Korea, sending text messages warning of the dangers posed by Khanun, which has been hitting the country for weeks after torrential rains led to flash floods and landslides that claimed the lives of at least 47 people.
On Thursday night, Khanun was passing by the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, which houses half of the country’s 51 million people, after landing near Geoje, located in the southeastern port city.
The storm caused heavy rainfall as it slowly swept across the country, but its strength decreased as you moved further inland. Khanun was experiencing maximum wind speeds of 72 kilometers per hour (45 miles per Stunde), which was approximately equivalent to around 129 kph (80 mph) when it hit the ground.
No significant damage was reported in Seoul at the time, and workers in Incheon, a neighboring city, responded to flooded homes and collapsed walls, but no one was immediately injured or killed.
Despite predictions of early Friday’s storm hitting North Korea, forecasters indicated that the greater Seoul area would still be affected until Friday afternoon.
The southern inland city of Daegu was one of the hardest hit areas in South Korea to be struck by Khanun, where rescuers used rubber boats to navigate a submerged village and search for residents.
The 67-year-old man was found unconscious near a bloated stream by Daegu fire official Lee Ga–yeon, who reported that emergency workers in the city were searching for another person who had beenswept into mud from swarmed wheelchairs. He was later declared dead at the hospital.
In Gangwon province, a mountainous region on the east coast where the Korea Meteorological Administration predicted 50 to 60 centimeters (20 to 23 inches) of rain in some areas, emergency workers in Gangneung and Sokcho seaside rivers worked over streets that were covered in brown, high-water.
A major highway in Yangyang county was flooded by water from a stream that collapsed, prompting workers to repair the embankment.
Emergency rescuers in Changwon, South Korea, utilized ropes to save people trapped in vast areas of flooded roads and responded to landslides that caused dirt and debris to overflow motorways. Shop owners and residents were prevented from entering the area by sandbags, while workers constructed flood shields for a major seafood store.
In Geoje, a parking lot that was littered with bricks and other debris flown by strong winds caused vehicles to be smashed or damaged by emergency workers in helmets.
Flooding in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, resulted in the closure of several motorways. Emergency workers worked to clear fallen trees that caused damage to roads and repair damaged structures. Meanwhile, a public park in Yeonje district was submerged.
Flood warnings were issued for the urban areas surrounding rivers and streams that flow through Gimhae, Ulsan, Pohang, and Gimmeong.
Floods caused damage to or destroyed 63 roads and 39 homes and buildings, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The safety ministry and aviation officials reported that over 620 motorways were closed, over 400 flights were put on hold, and almost 1,600 schools were shut down across the country. Additionally, hundreds of train rides were cancelled, ferry services were completely suspended, as well as more than 60,000 fishing ships being sent to port.
State media in North Korea lauded the country’s efforts to enhance road, railway, bridge, and coastline surveillance, as well as measures to safeguard factory equipment and crops.
Khanun’s journey around the southern Japanese islands lasted more than a week, during which it caused power outages and disrupted transit. The affected regions were warned of possible mudslides and flooding by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Additionally, Typhoon Lan is strengthening in the Pacific Ocean and expected to hit Japan’S main islands next week.
According to Japanese meteorologists, Lan was situated roughly 220 kilometers (136 miles) south of Chichi island and had winds of up to 126 kph (78 mph) on Thursday, which could bring torrential rain and strong winds that endanger the isolated islands over the weekend.
The Central Japan Railway Co. has stated that the typhoon’s path could result in some Shinkansen bullet train services being delayed or suspended from Sunday to Wednesday.
The World Scout Jamboree, which was taking place at a coastal campsite, was evacuated by Khanun, leading to the relocation of approximately 37,000 Scouts to various locations including universities, government training centers, and hotels in Seoul and nearby areas.
Despite the storm, organizers were still planning to hold a K-Pop concert on Friday for the Jamboree’s closing ceremony.
Despite the strengthening of the wind in Seoul, workers wearing raincoats worked on scaffolding at the Seoul World Cup Stadium to set up lights and other stage preparations on Thursday afternoon.
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Mari Yamaguchi, an AP writer in Tokyo, was involved in the creation of this report.
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