Typhoon 'Khanun' Moves North, Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures본부 Activates Level 2...Crisis Alert Raised to 'Warning' (Update)

Heavy Rain Expected Nationwide on 9-10th
"Full Effort to Prevent Casualties"

In response to the northward approach of Typhoon 'Khanun,' the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it will activate Level 2 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) starting at 6 p.m. on the 7th. The crisis alert level will be raised from 'Interest' to 'Caution.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry explained that since this typhoon is expected to have a direct impact across the entire country, they activated Level 2 of the CDSCH immediately without going through Level 1. Although the usual protocol is to escalate the crisis alert level from 'Interest' to 'Watch' and then to 'Caution,' the 'Watch' level was skipped this time.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Khanun is a strong typhoon with a central pressure of 970 hPa, maximum wind speeds of 35 m/s, and a strong wind radius of 350 km. Heavy rain is forecasted mainly along the eastern coast of Gangwon Yeongdong and northern Gyeongbuk from the 7th to the 8th, with strong winds and heavy rain expected nationwide between the 9th and 11th.

It is predicted to make landfall on the southern coast of Gyeongnam on the morning of the 10th, cross inland, and move to North Korea by early dawn on the 11th, affecting the entire country.

The CDSCH has instructed relevant agencies to fully restrict access to coastal lowlands, underground roadways, riverside walking paths, and hiking trails, and to encourage the installation of flood barriers in semi-basement houses and underground apartment parking lots where flooding is a concern.

Given the high risk of landslides, surveillance of dangerous areas will be intensified, and if any risk factors are detected, access should be promptly controlled and nearby residents evacuated. Disaster safety lines will be installed along the coast, and active support will be encouraged to ensure vulnerable households can evacuate smoothly.

Lee Sang-min, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of the Interior and Safety), stated, "We will respond with full force to prevent casualties through preemptive control of high-risk areas such as forest-adjacent zones, aging reservoirs, and underground roadways, as well as proactive evacuation of residents." He plans to hold a CDSCH meeting on the morning of the 8th to review countermeasures with related agencies.

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