Motor vehicles, bumper to bumper in Itaewon, downtown Seoul, move at a snail’s pace Monday as nearly 20 centimeters of snow fell on Seoul and its surrounding areas. / Korea Times |
Heavy snowfall hit Seoul and other parts of central South Korea Monday, triggering traffic chaos and forcing airlines to cancel all domestic flights and delay some international flights on the first work day of the New Year.
According to city officials and weathermen, nearly 20 centimeters of snow had accumulated in Seoul as of 9:00 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said, issuing a heavy snow alert for the capital city, Incheon and surrounding areas, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The unusually heavy snow disrupted traffic on Seoul's major roads and highways, forcing citizens on their first work day to flock to subways, buses and other public transportation.
Some ministers were late for the first cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae due to the traffic congestion caused by heavy snowfall.
Officials said Seoul's urban highways and riverside expressways already turned into a huge parking lot due to the heavy traffic congestion.
The municipal authorities closed all mountain roads leading to the downtown area and controlled traffic on hilly roads.
Airlines were forced to cancel all domestic flights out of Gimpo Airport on the western outskirts of Seoul, while severe international flight delays were reported at Incheon International Airport, further west of the capital.
"Snowfall began at 5 a.m. in Seoul and as much as 7.5 centimeters was recorded in just two hours. Snow is expected to stop falling Monday evening," said an official at the KMA.
"With the temperature plunging to minus 6.9 degrees early Monday morning, most roads in Seoul and neighboring areas are expected to become icy," the official said, asking motorists to exert special caution.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it has mobilized about 3,500 civil servants and 1,200 vehicles to spray snow-melting calcium chloride on all major roads and highways.
sahds@koreatimes.co.kr
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경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
