Powerful Typhoon Nanmadol batters Korea, Japan

Fishing boats in Seogwipo Harbor in southern Jeju Island wait for Typhoon Nanmadol to pass on July 3. / Yonhap

By Ko Dong-hwan

Thousands of people on the Korean Peninsula and in Japan felt the effects of powerful Typhoon Nanmadol.

The storm, formed on July 1, skidded off Jeju Island and hit Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan about 9 a.m. Tuesday. It caused widespread damage and disrupted flights before moving away from the coast. Nanmadol was 240 kilometers east of Tokyo at 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The typhoon brought heavy rain and winds up to 144 kph to Korea’s southern regions. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued heavy rain alerts for Hadong and Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province and Gurye in South Jeolla Province Wednesday. Lightning was reported over southern Korean waters.

The rain brought relief to the country which has suffered serious drought and extreme heat for weeks.

But the typhoon dealt a heavy blow to Japan. It halted flights and trains, cut electricity to tens of thousands of houses and many people were forced to evacuate their homes. In Kumamoto Prefecture, a large steel structure collapsed on roads, disrupting traffic, according to a KBS report Tuesday.

Nanmadol’s course was similar to last year’s Typhoon Chaba that affected Jeju Island and South Gyeongsang Province badly.