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| High waves hit Haeundae Beach in Busan as Typhoon Goni approaches the southeastern part of the country, Monday. Public safety authorities banned swimming off the beaches in the affected regions. / Yonhap |
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Typhoon advisories have been issued for waters around Jeju Island off the southern coast, as Typhoon Goni approaches the Korean Peninsula.
The tropical storm is expected to be the closest one to approach the country this year, and the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and security authorities have advised people to take precautions against possible damage.
The 15th typhoon of the year is expected to reach 300 kilometers off the east of Jeju Island at around 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The advisories will be expanded to Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, and some parts of Gangwon and North and South Gyeongsang provinces, and the East Sea by Tuesday evening.
High wave warnings were also issued for waters around Jeju.
Heavy rain is also forecast. Starting in Jeju Monday, most parts of the country will have rain Tuesday. Some parts of South Jeolla and Gangwon provinces will get up to 300 millimeters of rain.
Rainfall will stop across most of the country by Wednesday afternoon, according to the KMA.
The Ministry of Public Safety and Security held emergency meetings on preventive measures.
"Goni will be this year's first typhoon to directly affect inland parts of the country," a ministry official said. "It is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain, so people living in regions easily affected by floods or landslides are advised to take extra caution."
Before moving toward Japan and Korea, Goni had a deadly impact on the northern Philippines as it slowly passed through the country's Luzon Island, leaving 15 people dead, mainly due to landslides.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the typhoon's wind speed was 158.8 miles per hour (mph) at one location on one of the Ryukyu Islands, breaking the site's all-time record of 157 mph set on July 31, 1977.
