Four Nuclear Reactors Shut Down, 200,000 Households Blacked Out... Typhoon Maysak Scratched the East (Comprehensive)

Apartment Window Breaks in Busan Causing Death of 60s Man Amid Widespread Damage Nationwide
2300 Evacuated Due to Landslide and Tsunami Risks... Power Outages in Jeju and Gyeongnam
Street Trees Uprooted and Roofs Blown Away... Typhoon Passed but Strong Winds Persist

On the morning of the 3rd, when Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon, made landfall in Busan, Units 3 and 4 of the Gori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang-gun, Busan, stopped operating. Due to the typhoon, four nuclear reactors, including Shin-Kori Units 1 and 2, sequentially shut down. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung and Lee Hyun-joo] Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon of the season, accompanied by strong winds, swept across the eastern part of the Korean Peninsula and moved out into the East Sea. Although the entire country is gradually moving out of the typhoon's influence, some areas still need caution due to strong winds expected until the morning.

Typhoon Maysak moved into the East Sea near the southern area of Gangneung around 6:30 a.m. that day. Earlier, it passed south of Geoje Island around 1:40 a.m. and made landfall on the southwestern coast of Busan around 2:20 a.m. As of 9 a.m., it was moving northward at a speed of 59 km/h about 90 km northeast off the coast of Gangneung.

Most typhoon warnings in the southern regions have been lifted, and rain in the central regions is expected to stop by the morning with winds gradually calming by the afternoon. However, typhoon warnings in Busan and Ulsan have been downgraded to strong wind advisories, and some areas in Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Chungbuk still have typhoon warnings, while the Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province remains under typhoon advisories. Gangwon and Gyeongbuk, which will be the last to exit the typhoon's influence, are expected to experience very strong winds with maximum gusts reaching about 108 km/h, and the northeastern part of Gangwon Yeongdong is forecasted to receive around 20 mm of rain per hour.

The typhoon caused widespread damage across the country. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the Fire Agency, at around 1:35 a.m., a woman in her 60s was injured when glass shattered due to strong winds while she was taping a veranda window in an apartment in Saha-gu, Busan. She received treatment but ultimately passed away. On Jangsan-ro in Haeundae-gu, Busan, a 40-meter-long steel structure collapsed onto the road, and a container used as an office was blown onto the road in front of Gangseo Sports Park, blocking traffic.

On the morning of the 3rd, street trees in the Dowon-dong area of Dalseo-gu, Daegu, were knocked down by the strong winds of Typhoon Maysak. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Due to the increased risk of landslides and tsunamis caused by heavy rain, about 1,500 households and 2,300 people temporarily evacuated in areas including Jeju, the East Sea coast of Busan, Changwon, Gimhae, Yeongdeok in Gyeongnam, and Yangyang in Gangwon. As of 6:30 a.m., 205,103 households experienced power outages in Jeju, Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Daegu (according to Korea Electric Power Corporation), with about 72,800 households (35%) still without power, causing significant inconvenience to residents.

At 12:59 a.m., four reactors?Shin Kori Units 1 and 2, and Kori Units 3 and 4?automatically shut down. The Kori Nuclear Power Plant headquarters is investigating the cause, which is presumed to be an external power system issue, and confirmed there is no radiation leak or related impact.

In Seoul and the metropolitan area, street trees fell and roofs of detached houses were blown away. At around 6:12 a.m., a tree fell near the entrance of Ilwon Tunnel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, blocking part of the sidewalk and road. In Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, near Hanshin University Intersection, and on the road toward Bukak Skyway in Seongbuk-gu, street trees were uprooted, blocking the road. On Sapyeong-daero in Seocho-gu, a fallen tree covered a traffic light, and in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, a detached house roof was damaged. In Sangye-dong, Nowon-gu, part of a road noise barrier was also damaged. Earlier, at around 4:20 a.m., a tree fell onto the sidewalk in Deokgye-dong, Yangju-si, entangling nearby power lines, and another tree fell onto the road in Soheul-eup, Pocheon-si.

Due to the typhoon, 1,037.5 mm of rain fell on the southern wall of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju from the 2nd. As of 8 a.m., rainfall recorded includes 490.5 mm in Goseong (Mishiryeong), Gangwon Province; 324.5 mm in Gangneung (Sapdangryeong); and 326.5 mm in Namwon (Baemsagol), Jeonbuk Province. The Seoul metropolitan area recorded 195.5 mm in Ongjin (Deokjeokdo) and 61.5 mm in Seoul. Maximum wind gusts were recorded at 177 km/h in Gosan, Jeju; 168 km/h in Maemuldo, Tongyeong; and 161 km/h in Ganyeoam, Yeosu.

From the 6th, the country is expected to be affected by Typhoon Haishen, the 10th typhoon of the season. It is forecasted to start from Jeju and make landfall on the southern coast on the 7th, impacting the entire nation. A Korea Meteorological Administration official said, "The typhoon's path is still uncertain, but it is expected to be strong, so nationwide preparedness is necessary."

On the 3rd, the area around Imwon Port in Samcheok City, Gangwon Province, suffered flooding damage due to swell waves caused by Typhoon Maysak, the 9th typhoon of the season. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.