Typhoon warnings expanded to Seoul

By Kim Rahn

Typhoon Muifa battered Jeju Island and the southwestern coastal regions Sunday as the Korea Meteorological Administration issued warnings across the nation.

As the typhoon moves upward along the coast, the weather agency expanded typhoon alerts to Seoul and its surrounding areas at 9:00 p.m. Earlier in the day, the weather agency issued typhoon warnings to Jeju, southwestern coastal areas, North and South Jeolla provinces, and South Chungcheong Province.

“More downpours, accompanied by thunder and lightning, and strong winds are expected along the coast. South Chungcheong and Gyeonggi provinces, Daejeon, Seoul and Incheon will also be under the direct influence of Muifa until Monday,” a weather agent said.

The weather agency forecast Seoul and its metropolitan areas will have heavy rain and strong winds by Monday.

“The typhoon is forecast to move northward, hitting Dalian, China Monday night. But the path is unpredictable, so people are advised to pay attention to weather forecasts and prepare for possible property damage,” the weatherman said.

Downpours and strong winds hit the southwestern resort island of Jeju Saturday and Sunday, with some regions receiving over 500 millimeters of rainfall.

In Seongeup Folk Village, a 600-year-old Hackberry tree, National Monument No. 161, was felled by strong winds and rain, and landed onto a government office building built during Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), Jeju’s Tangible Cultural Property No. 7, destroying half of the building.

Some 20,000 households suffered from power failure.

More than 300 flights between Jeju and the mainland were cancelled and thousands of holidaymakers were unable to return home. As the typhoon was moving above the Yellow Sea, 15 international flights between Incheon and southeastern Chinese cities were also grounded.

Fishing boats were anchored and ferry operations connecting the mainland and islands in the Yellow Sea were suspended.

More than 200,000 vacationers at dozens of the beaches along the western coast and in Busan, including Haeundae, were banned from entering the sea.