The government will hold an extensive meeting on Friday to brace for a powerful typhoon expected to affect the nation early next week.
Typhoon Bolaven, which is named after a highland region in Laos, is expected to be the most powerful storm of the season for the country and to bring heavy rains to the southern island of Jeju from Monday before affecting the whole country the following day, according to the state weather agency.
The typhoon will likely cause huge damage to the country already suffering from recent heavy precipitations due to the unusually lengthy rainy spell of the early autumn season, according to the central disaster management headquarters.
During the emergency meeting involving nine ministries concerned and 16 regional governments, authorities decided to conduct a safety inspection into areas prone to landslides, and cordon off danger areas such as seawalls and seasides.
They also plan to encourage people living in such vulnerable regions to evacuate beforehand, and to double-check ships, vinyl greenhouses and street signs to minimize risks to people's lives and property, according to the disaster agency.
In mid-July, Typhoon Khanun passed through the country, leaving one people dead and hundreds of passenger services canceled.
(Yonhap)