Jeju Flooded by 523.5mm Heavy Rain, Busan Trapped in Muddy Water

Typhoon Haishen Moves Westward More Than Expected, Approaches East Coast and Moves North
Gyeongju Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2 and 3 Turbines Shut Down...Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Raise Crisis Alert to 'Severe'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung and Lee Hyun-joo] Due to the influence of Typhoon Haishen, the 10th typhoon, which changed its course westward more than expected, damage is occurring in various parts of the country. As of the morning of the 7th, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is falling in Busan, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Gangwon.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the Fire Agency on the same day, in the early morning, street trees fell at an intersection in Nam-gu, Busan, and traffic lights were bent in Yeongdo-gu, causing continuous wind damage. In Jeju City, a citizen trapped inside a flooded vehicle was rescued. A total of 353 residents from 125 households in five cities and counties including Yangyang, Sokcho, Goseong, Pyeongchang, and Gangneung in Gangwon Province evacuated in advance to village halls and eup/myeon offices.

Road closures due to strong winds also continued. The Geoga Bridge connecting Busan and Geoje in Gyeongnam was closed. Operation of 10 general train lines and 1 light rail line was also suspended. A total of 311 flights at 10 airports including Jeju, Gimpo, and Gimhae were canceled, and all 161 vessels on 103 ferry routes were controlled.

At 9 AM, Notification for Typhoon No. 10 'Haishen' (Provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration website)

Power outages occurred in about 23,000 households in Ulsan and 4,155 households in Ulju-gun, and restoration work is underway. Production lines were halted due to power outages at Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant 5 and Hyundai Mobis factories. It is reported that seawater overflowed into the Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan shipyard area. In Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, the turbine generators of Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2 and 3 stopped. The Wolsong headquarters stated that there was no external radiation leakage. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters raised the typhoon crisis alert to the highest level, "Severe," and issued the highest level 3 emergency response.

Meanwhile, due to this typhoon, 523.5 mm of rain fell at Eorimok, Jeju Island, from the 6th to 9 a.m. on the same day. The maximum instantaneous wind speed recorded was 138 km/h in Geoje, Gyeongsang, and 112 km/h in Gosan, Jeju. As the typhoon gradually moves northward, heavy rain is expected in Chungcheong, Seoul, and Gyeonggi as well. Expected rainfall amounts are 100-300 mm in Gangwon Yeongdong, Gyeongsang, Ulleungdo, and Dokdo (with more than 400 mm in parts of Gangwon Yeongdong, the east coast of North Gyeongsang, and the northeastern mountains of North Gyeongsang), 100-200 mm in the eastern inland areas of Jeonnam and Jeonbuk, and 30-100 mm in other parts of the country.

Strong winds are also expected. In Gangwon Yeongdong, Gyeongsang, Ulleungdo, Dokdo, and Jeju Island, maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 90-145 km/h are expected, while the west coast and southern coast of Jeonnam will experience maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 35-110 km/h, and other regions will see very strong winds with maximum instantaneous wind speeds of 35-70 km/h.

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