By Lee Kyung-min
Seoul and the surrounding capital region will be hit today by continued strong winds and heavy rains that killed one and injured two others, Tuesday, the weather authorities said Wednesday.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the rain front that accompanied a flash downpour Tuesday afternoon will continue until this morning while passing through Gangwon Province before heading out to the Pacific.
"Extra caution is required over possible water damage including mudslides and flooding as a lot of the rainfall has saturated the ground," a KMA official said.
"Fallen trees may block roadways possibly resulting in an increased number of accidents. We advise people to avoid outdoor activities until after the storm moves completely away from the country."
The downpour has wreaked havoc in the country's southern and central regions while moving to the northeast.
Flooding occurred in roads and farmlands around Daejeon, the country's central region, where more rain is expected to cause water damage through Friday.
In Seoul Tuesday night, a man in his 40s drowned in fast-rising water on a road in Nowon, the city's northern area, and two women in their 60s were injured in a flash flood in the same district.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety received over 480 calls reporting sewer overflows. Over 60 people were evacuated and 764 residences and stores were damaged nationwide.
The ministry said weather advisories are in effect in most provinces and recommended the central and local governments beef up precautionary measures to minimize any further damage to buildings, roads and farm facilities from flooding and mudslides.
The authorities advised against visiting submerged and low-lying areas _ especially by children and the elderly.
The downpour came less than a week after Typhoon Soulik caused damage mostly in the country's southern regions, and left the capital region largely unaffected.
Last week, the weather agency remained on high alert over a possible merger of Soulik with Typhoon Cimaron which was also headed for the Korean Peninsula, as it could have created a "Fujiwhara effect," an interaction in which two typhoons can develop into a larger cyclone that could bring about massive damage.
However, Korea avoided damage after the two typhoons passed while remaining over 1,000 kilometers apart on their way to the Pacific.
The KMA said possible damage is feared due to Typhoon Jebi approaching Korea from Guam.
The typhoon, which has a 220-kilometer wind radius and central pressure of 985 hectopascals (hPa), could intensify over the next few days. While unlikely, Korea could be affected as early as Monday if Jebi veers off its initial course, the KMA added.
Jebi was heading towards the Northern Mariana Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean as of Wednesday.
