By Lee Kyung-min, Kang Seung-woo
The Chungcheong provinces will face the fury of Typhoon Soulik which has already wreaked havoc in the country’s southern coastal areas since late Wednesday, the weather authorities said Thursday.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Soulik, which has a 300-kilometer wind radius and central pressure of 970 hectopascals (hPa) as of 6 p.m., will reach Gunsan, North Jeolla Province on the nation’s southwest coast at 3 a.m. today, and pass through Daejeon and Chungju, 100 kilometers south of Seoul -- the closest point to the capital at 9 a.m.
The typhoon will continue to move northeast to Gangneung, Gangwon Province before heading out to the Pacific.
However, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are likely to suffer less damage than previously warned as Soulik’s forecast track has moved southward, according to the KMA’s forecast at 6 p.m.
“Soulik is unlikely to directly hit Seoul after it slowed down and changed course over the past few hours,” a KMA official said.
Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province will face the fury of Typhoon Soulik which has already wreaked havoc in the country's southern coastal areas since late Wednesday, the weather authorities said Thursday.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Soulik, which has a 320-kilometer wind radius and central pressure of 970 hectopascals (hPa), will reach southern Gyeonggi Province, 90 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 9 a.m. today, bringing strong winds and over 100 millimeters of rain.
“The tropical typhoon will bear down on Seoul, Friday morning, and pass through the eastern part of the country later in the day,” a KMA official said. “Soulik is unlikely to directly hit Seoul after it slowed down and changed course over the past few hours.”
Typhoon warnings are in effect in most provinces and the central and local governments have been beefing up precautionary measures to minimize any possible damage to buildings, roads and farm facilities from expected heavy rainfall and any resultant flooding and mudslides.
Airports and ports across the nation have closed down temporarily. More than 600 domestic and international flights, mainly in and out of Jeju, were canceled through Thursday; and the cancellations are likely to continue Friday at a larger number of airports including Gimpo, Gimhae and Incheon.
Education offices have closed thousands of elementary, middle and high schools, including those in Seoul, Incheon and Gangwon Province, while 1,500 schools on Jeju and the western parts of the country were already closed Thursday.
On Jeju, where the typhoon landed first, a woman who was taking a picture near a waterfall has been reported missing and a man was injured. About 90 tons of breakwater structures were damaged and over 6,500 households lost power.
Further damage is feared following the possible merger of Soulik with Typhoon Cimaron also on its way toward the Korean Peninsula. The two could create a “Fujiwhara effect,” an interaction in which two typhoons can affect each other's path and speed as well as cause the development of a larger cyclone that could bring about massive damage.
Cimaron is expected to maintain its intensity, the KMA said.
“Typhoon Cimaron is expected to pass through mainland Japan late Thursday or early Friday. We will have to watch closely whether it will merge with Soulik,” the official said.
The weather agency advised people to avoid outdoor activities or visiting submerged and low-lying areas - especially children and the elderly.
“More power outages are expected, and some areas may be left without power for several days. Fallen trees may block roadways. Caution is required until after the typhoons completely move away from the country,” the official said.
President Moon Jae-in also called for thorough preparation for the typhoon, calling it a “national emergency.”
At a National Security Council meeting, Moon said that all possible measures should be implemented promptly to minimize damage. “The education authorities are recommended to take measures for students' safety, such as temporary closures or allowing them to come in late,” he said. “Private companies also need to take action by rearranging working hours. Construction sites must be prepared for the possible collapse of heavy industrial equipment.”