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| Rescue workers search for missing residents in an inundated area of a village in Daegu, Thursday, when heavy rainfall and strong winds from Typhoon Khanun caused flooding, landslides and extensive facility damage across the nation. Yonhap |
One man dies, another goes missing in Daegu
By Ko Dong-hwan
Typhoon Khanun, which passed through the Korean Peninsula, Thursday, killed one and left another missing, while bringing heavy rain and strong winds that disrupted sea, air and railway operations.
A 67-year-old man was found dead beneath a bridge in Daegu around 1 p.m., according to authorities, while another man in a wheelchair went missing after falling into another flooded stream in the same city at 1:45 p.m.
In addition, dozens of people were rescued nationwide after being trapped in flooded roads and rivers, while a woman in her 30s in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, was struck by a falling tree and taken to a hospital.
In Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, a powerful gust of water pushed a manhole grate through the bottom of a bus that was idling over it. A flooded sewer system apparently increased the underground pressure, causing the metal grate to shoot up. But nobody was injured.
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| Cows are partially submerged in a flooded farm near Daegu, Thursday, as heavy rainfall and strong winds from Typhoon Khanun caused flooding, landslides and extensive facility damage across Korea. Yonhap |
As of 7 p.m., over 40,000 households nationwide experienced power outages. Electricity supply resumed to most of the homes later.
All sea travel routes in the country's southern waters were shut down. Railway services across the country were also impacted, with operations of high speed trains halted over 160 times, other railways over 250 times and subways over 40 times, including four in Busan and the Busan-Gimhae light rail transit.
Korea Railroad, the country's state-run railway operator, shut down all train services in the southern coastal regions as well as Taebaek and Gyeongbuk Lines in Gangwon Province and Donghae Line in South Gyeongsang Province.
Some 360 flights were canceled at 14 airports nationwide, including over 200 connecting Jeju Island and the mainland, according to the Korea Airports Corp.
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| Trees uprooted by strong winds from Typhoon Khanun block the entrance of a parking lot in Busan, Thursday. Courtesy of Busan Fire and Disaster Department |
Khanun has forced almost 1,600 kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools nationwide to change their normal class schedules to prevent the typhoon from impacting students.
The number of the affected schools accounts for over 47 percent of those that have opened following their summer vacations. Under the emergency plans, the schools either replaced regular classes with online lessons, delayed the starting date of the new semester, shortened school hours or delayed class starting hours.
The Central Disaster Safety and Countermeasure Headquarters said over 14,000 people in some 110 cities, districts and counties across the country had been evacuated. North Gyeongsang Province accounted for the most with over 9,200 evacuees.
Rescue authorities continued to receive reports about people being trapped by flooding, broken trees blocking streets, destruction of buildings and facilities and boulders rolling down from mountains to residential zones. Almost 160 reports were made nationwide about damage to private and public buildings and structures.
As of 9 p.m.. Khanun reached some 50 kilometers east of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province and kept moving northbound, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
Khanun landed on the mainland in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, at about 9:20 a.m., according to the KMA. After crossing the country vertically, it is expected to reach North Korea on Friday morning.
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| A marker board at Gimpo International Airport shows flights scheduled to depart Gimpo and arrive in Jeju Island have been canceled due to Typhoon Khanun, Thursday. Yonhap |
Khanun brought "medium-level" winds with a velocity of 90 to 119 kilometers per hour and its centrifugal force was 975 hectopascals (hPa) when it landed on Geoje.
Khanun's eye approached Daegu at noon and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province at about 3 p.m.
During the course, the typhoon's intensity weakened with its centrifugal force falling from 980 hPa near Daegu to 990 hPa in Gyeonggi. The higher the figure, the weaker the centrifugal pressure.
Mountainous regions as well as the coastal areas of Gangwon Province saw large amounts of rainfall, with some regions, including Gangneung, receiving more than 300 millimeters.
Most other regions saw from 50 to 200 millimeters of rain. The rain is forecast to continue until Friday afternoon, while central regions will see drizzles.
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| Rescue workers remove a sign in Hwasun, South Jeolla Province, Thursday, which was torn down by strong winds from Typhoon Khanun. Yonhap |
