Typhoon warning issued as Nabi approaches southern Korea

The Korean government issued a typhoon warning on southern coastal areas yesterday as powerful Typhoon Nabi approached the peninsula.

The typhoon was packing winds of up to 162 kilometers per hour as of yesterday morning as it barreled toward Japan`s southernmost main island of Kyushu.

The 14th named storm of the season is expected to pass though the Korea Strait tomorrow morning, said the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Even though Nabi is unlikely to hit the peninsula directly and has weakened somewhat, the KMA forecast it will bring up to 100 mm of rain and strong winds in the southern parts of Korea today.

The typhoon has already caused high waves and heavy rains in the southern coast yesterday, forcing the cancellation of flights and ferry services.

The National Emergency Management Agency ordered the closure of the airport in the southeastern city of Pohang, leading to flight cancellations Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines.

Nabi, meaning "butterfly" in Korean, is moving further towards Japan and is expected to hit the country`s main islands. Japan`s weather agency has also issued warnings about high waves, storms, heavy rain and flooding across areas from Okinawa running north to Tokyo and the Niigata prefecture, according to news reports.

Torrential rains lashed Tokyo overnight till Monday morning, killing one person, flooding homes and cutting off power to thousands.

A 61-year-old man was found dead late Sunday on a flooded road in Saitama outside Tokyo after he rushed to help his son whose car was stuck, Japanese police said.

The meteorological agency said over 100 millimeters (four inches) of rain was dumped on the capital overnight, disrupting late night train services. Nearly 2,000 homes were flooded by the powerful storm and 7,000 households were left without electricity in the Tokyo area, police said. Public broadcaster NHK said 300 flights were grounded across Japan.

Last year, Japan was struck by a record 10 typhoons and tropical storms, leaving nearly 220 people dead or missing - the largest casualty toll since 1983. Typhoon Tokage, which hit in October, was Japan`s deadliest storm in more than a decade, killing 83 people.

Another typhoon, called Talim, swept across mainland China`s east coast from Thursday killing up to 56 people causing heavy rains, floods, and landslides.

(yoonmi@heraldm.com)



By Kim Yoon-mi and news reports