Typhoon hits southern peninsula

People ask Korean Air staffers about schedule changes at Jeju International Airport after dozens of flights were grounded due to typhoon Chan-hom, Sunday. / Yonhap

Heavy rain, strong wind cancel flights

By Kim Se-jeong

Typhoon Chan-hom brought torrential rainfall to southern parts of the country over the weekend, causing damage to facilities and forcing the cancellation of flights and ferries.

According to Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the accumulated rainfall between Saturday and Sunday in the mountainous regions of Jeju Island exceeded 1,400 millimeters. The rest of the island received nearly 200 millimeters on average. People were banned from climbing Mount Halla at the center of the island, and beaches were closed.

Besides Jeju, the typhoon mainly affected southern parts of the peninsula, with 330 millimeters of rain falling in Sancheong near the Mount Jiri range and Namwon and 120 millimeters in Boseong and on Baengnyeong Island. Seoul had 70 millimeters of rain with the most, 60 millimeters, falling in Yangsan.

The KMA said most of Korea will stay under the influence of the typhoon through early Tuesday, with the typhoon expected to weaken Monday.

Seoul and Gyeonggi, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces are forecast to receive up to 60 millimeters of rain until Tuesday, while southern parts of the country, especially southern coastal areas and Mount Jiri, are expected to have up to 150 millimeters more.

Jeju Island will have up to 80 millimeters; Chungcheong and North Jeolla provinces, up to 60 millimeters; while eastern coastal regions and Ulleung Island and Dokdo will have 40 millimeters.

As Chan-hom brought heavy rainfall as well as strong winds, many parts of the country were under rain and wind advisories.

A typhoon warning was issued for islands off the western coast Sunday, while heavy rain alerts were also in place for Jeju, and Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces.

Those regions and Busan also had strong wind advisories.

“The strong wind is causing high waves in coastal regions, so residents are advised to take caution as they come over breakwaters or hit seaside roads,” a KMA official said.

Nearly 90 flights between Seoul and southern parts of the country ― Jeju, Yeosu and Busan ― were cancelled, according to Gimpo International Airport Corp. A wind shear warning was issued for Jeju International Airport, and a strong wind warning for Yeosu International Airport.

Dozens of more flights between Jeju and other parts of the country, including Cheongju, were also grounded.

In Jeju solely, some 2,000 tourists and residents were unable to take flights to their destinations.

More than 10 international flights scheduled to depart Gimhae International Airport in Busan were cancelled. No international flights were cancelled at Incheon International Airport.

In Jeju, almost 2,000 boats were forbidden from sailing, some of which were passenger ferries.

Strong winds also destroyed tents and signboards in Jeju, toppling trees and stone walls.