Powerful typhoon on course to hit Korea this week

Typhoon Soulik's path. Captured from Korean Meteorological Administration as of 10:00 a.m. Aug. 19

By Jung Hae-myoung

Powerful typhoon Soulik is on course to strike the Korean Peninsula this week, the state weather agency said Sunday, warning people on Jeju Island and in southern coastal areas to prepare.

Soulik, classified as "strong" with maximum gusts of 144 km/h and central pressure of 955 hPs, was 830 kilometers east-north-east of Guam at 9 a.m. Sunday, and was moving northwest at 34 km/h, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

The typhoon is expected to hit southern Japan on Wednesday and the peninsula's southern coast on Thursday morning. The southwestern city of Yeosu is expected to bear the brunt of the typhoon.

After making landfall, the typhoon is forecast to travel northeastward with high winds and heavy rain.

"The good news is that the typhoon will kick out the protracted heatwave," a KMA official said. "The bad news is potential damage. We are doing everything we can to minimize damage."

Soulik, a Micronesian word meaning "legendary head of family," is the 19th typhoon this year.

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