Typhoon Hin Nam No Approaching North... Commuters Fear 'Traffic Chaos' During Work Commute

'Hinnamno' moves north at 21 km/h about 480 km south-southwest of Seogwipo, Jeju
Strong wind and heavy rain damage occur even before direct typhoon impact
Strong rain and wind forecast for the Seoul metropolitan area as well

On the afternoon of the 4th, a forecaster at the Seoul Metropolitan Weather Administration in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do is analyzing and monitoring Typhoon Hinnamnor, the 11th typhoon moving northward.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Starting today (the 5th), as the entire country falls under the influence of Typhoon No. 11 'Hinnamnor', concerns are growing over traffic chaos for office workers commuting to and from work due to heavy rain and strong winds. The government has actively recommended adjusting the start time for commuting in the private sector on the morning of the 6th, when the typhoon is expected to make landfall.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on this day, 'Hinnamnor' is moving north at 21 km/h from about 480 km south-southwest of Seogwipo City at 3 a.m., with a central pressure of 935 hectopascals (hPa) and maximum wind speeds of 49 m/s, classified as 'very strong.'

As the Korean Peninsula comes under the influence of 'Hinnamnor' today, heavy rain is expected nationwide. The Meteorological Administration forecasted that most regions across the country will experience very heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning due to the impact of Hinnamnor.

As the areas receiving rain gradually expand, very heavy rain with hourly rainfall of 50 to 100 mm is expected in Seoul, Incheon, and the entire Gyeonggi Province this morning. Additionally, due to the typhoon's influence, between today and tomorrow, Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province are expected to experience very strong winds with maximum instantaneous wind speeds exceeding 55 to 70 km/h (15 m/s).

Before the typhoon's direct impact, strong winds and heavy rain caused damage in Jeju Island starting from the 4th. According to the Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, four people were trapped and later rescued after their vehicles were submerged by suddenly rising water on roads in Sangmo-ri and Mureung-ri, Daejeong-eup. Additionally, two people were rescued from flooded houses in Dongil-ri and Yeongnak-ri, Daejeong-eup.

If the typhoon's path shifts westward and passes through inland areas, significant damage is expected. Previously, Typhoon 'Gonpas' in 2010, which was less powerful than Hinnamnor, struck the metropolitan area causing major damage. At that time, strong winds caused power outages, subway operations were suspended, and uprooted street trees blocked major roads, leading to severe traffic congestion.

On the 4th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) directly from Level 1 to Level 3 as the landfall of Typhoon 'Hinnamnor' approached, and upgraded the crisis alert level from 'Caution' to 'Severe.' The crisis alert levels progress in the order of Interest - Caution - Warning - Severe, and the CDSCH emergency response levels increase from Level 1 to Level 3.

Lee Sang-min, head of the CDSCH, urged preemptive evacuation and proactive control of hazardous areas such as semi-basements and coastal roads, as heavy rainfall exceeding 400 mm and strong winds with maximum instantaneous speeds of 40 to 60 m/s are expected. He also requested that aquaculture facilities, port cranes, and ships be secured and tied down in advance.

To prevent casualties, the government actively recommends adjusting commuting times in the private sector on the morning of the 6th, when the typhoon is expected to make landfall, and requested that schools at all levels implement proactive school closures or remote classes based on the autonomous judgment of school principals.

Meanwhile, 'Hinnamnor' is expected to make landfall on the southern coast, passing about 90 km southwest of Busan at 6 a.m. on the 6th, and then move out of the Korean Peninsula by 6 p.m., heading toward a point about 710 km southwest of Sapporo, Japan.

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