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Typhoon bashes S. Korea, Plannings reduce damages

Typhoon bashes S. Korea, Plannings reduce damages

Typhoon bashes S. Korea, plannings reduce damages

Newslooks- SEOUL, South Korea (AP)

The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years killed at least three people, dumped a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroyed roads and felled power lines on Tuesday. The death toll could have been higher if not for proactive evacuations and school closures, officials said.

Debris from a damaged hospital caused by typhoon is seen on a street in Ulsan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Kim Yong-tai/Yonhap via AP)

There was also greater public awareness about the storm and its risks. Typhoon Hinnamnor made impact just weeks after heavy rain around the capital, Seoul, caused flooding that killed at least 14 people.

Farmland is flooded in the aftermath of Typhoon Hinnamnor at a village in Pohang, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity before weakening at sea. (Kim Hyun-tae/Yonhap via AP)

Government officials put the nation on high alert for days as Hinnamnor approached, warning of potentially historic destruction and putting in motion life-saving measures.

South Korean firefighters rescue a citizen near a river in Ulsan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Kim Yong-tai/Yonhap via AP)

After grazing the resort island of Jeju and hitting the mainland near the port city of Busan, Hinnamnor weakened as it blew into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

CORRECTS YEAR TO 2022 – A building is swept down in the aftermath of Typhoon Hinnamnor at a village in Pohang, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity before weakening at sea. (Kim Hyun-tae/Yonhap via AP)

South Korea’s weather agency said Hinnamnor was over the open sea 280 kilometers (173 miles) northeast of Ulleung island with winds weakened to 115 kilometers (71 miles) per hour on Tuesday afternoon. It was expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by night as it moves northeast between Russia and the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the agency said.

A woman takes a selfie photo after Typhoon Hinnamnor passed over the Korean Peninsula near the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 66,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

However, the damage was still severe in the southern city of Pohang, where two people were found dead and at least seven others were missing after the storm submerged roads and buildings, triggered landslides and flooded a shopping mall.

The Han River, swollen with floodwater, flows under a bridge in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 66,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Cars with smashed windows and trunks open lay scattered on roads like garbage. An entire two-story pool villa was uprooted from the ground and swept away by flash floods. Troops were deployed to assist with rescue and restoration efforts, moving in armored vehicles through streets turned into chocolate-colored rivers.

The Han River, swollen with floodwater, flows under bridges in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 66,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Firefighters navigated flooded neighborhoods in rubber boats, rescuing people and their pets. Merchants scrambled to salvage furniture and other belongings at the famous Guryongpo outdoor market, where workers deployed excavators to clear huge piles of debris.

Debris caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor are seen at a waterfront park in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping almost a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 20,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground.(Sohn Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)

The rain and flooding eroded the foundations of bridges and motorways, which were often broken in chunks or blocked by fallen trees and electricity poles. Factory buildings were tilted, while a shipping container blew away and landed above cars in a parking lot.

A road is damaged as waves hit a shore in Ulsan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping almost a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 20,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground. (Kim Yong-tai/Yonhap via AP)

“I woke up at 5 a.m. at because of the explosive rain, and I got really concerned because the water rose right up to my doorway,” Kim Seong-chang, a Pohang resident, said in an interview with JTBC. “The water was still thigh-high at 7 a.m. and those who parked their cars in the streets were in panic because their vehicles were submerged. … Other residents were bucketing out water from their homes.”

Waves hit a shore in Ulsan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. The most powerful typhoon to hit South Korea in years battered its southern region Tuesday, dumping almost a meter (3 feet) of rain, destroying roads and felling power lines, leaving 20,000 homes without electricity as thousands of people fled to safer ground. (Kim Yong-tai/Yonhap via AP)

The storm dumped more than 105 centimeters (41 inches) of rain in central Jeju since Sunday, where winds peaked at 155 kph (96 mph). Southern and eastern mainland regions also had damage — knocked-off signboards and roofing, toppled trees and traffic signs, and destroyed roads.

Debris caused by Typhoon Hinnamnor are left at a waterfront park in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Sohn Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)

In Pohang, a woman in her 70s died after being swept away in flash floods, while another woman in her 60s was found dead in a submerged basement parking lot, where the search was continuing for five people.

Wading in the parking lot’s neck-high waters with ropes tied to their bodies, emergency workers on Tuesday night managed to pull out two people who had been trapped. President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a congratulatory message after the first survivor’s rescue, calling it a “miracle.”

Waves hit a shore in Pohang, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Kim Hyun-tai/Yonhap via AP)

Rescue workers failed to recover another man who called for help before he went missing, presumably swept away by flash floods.

In the neighboring city of Gyeongju, a woman in her 80s died after her home was buried in a landslide. In Ulsan, another southern city, a 25-year-old man was unaccounted for after falling into a rain-swollen stream, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Flood water from the river cover a parking lot in Ulsan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Kim Yong-tai/Yonhap via AP)

Also in Pohang, firefighters extinguished flames that damaged at least three facilities at a major steel plant operated by POSCO. A presidential official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in a background briefing, said officials were investigating the cause of the fires.

A shop is damaged by Typhoon Hinnamnor in Jeju, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Han Sang-kyun/Yonhap via AP)

Local fire officials said the flames destroyed a building housing electricity equipment and damaged a separate office building and a coking factory before being put out.

The Safety Ministry said about 3,200 of 4,500 people who had been forced to evacuate returned home Tuesday afternoon. More than 80 homes, buildings and factories were flooded or destroyed, and hundreds of roads, bridges and facilities were damaged.

Waves crash over the breakwater in Busan, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Sohn Hyung-joo/Yonhap via AP)

More than 600 schools were closed or converted to online classes. Workers had managed to restore electricity to 78,890 of the 89,180 households that lost power.

In North Korea, state media reported “all-out efforts” to minimize damage from flooding and landslides. The state Korean Central News Agency reported that leader Kim Jong Un had issued “detailed tasks” at government meetings to improve the country’s disaster response capacity but didn’t elaborate on the plans.

Stones are seen on a parking lot in Jeju, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor made landfall in the country’s southern regions on Tuesday, unleashing fierce rains and winds that destroyed trees and roads, and left more than 20,000 homes without power. (Han Sang-kyun/Yonhap via AP)

North Korea sustained serious damage from heavy rains and floods in 2020 that destroyed buildings, roads and crops, hurting the country’s already-crippled economy.

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