Persistent snow leads to multiple road accidents, airport disruptions
The heavy snow that blanketed South Korea for two days has caused multiple traffic accidents, disrupted airport schedules, and created hazardous road conditions, prompting authorities to issue weather warnings.
Intense snowfall of 3 to 8 centimeters per hour was recorded in parts of Incheon, northwestern and southern Gyeonggi Province, southern inland Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong Provinces on Friday morning.
Icy roads cause multiple accidents
A multi-vehicle pileup involving some 30 cars occurred on the southbound lanes of the Sunchon-Wanju Expressway in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, on Friday afternoon.
According to local authorities, at least 10 people were injured, including a woman in her 60s who sustained serious injuries. Police authorities are reported to still be assessing the scene for additional casualties.
The crash caused significant traffic congestion, with a 10-kilometer stretch of the expressway experiencing heavy delays. In response, Namwon city officials issued an emergency disaster alert, advising drivers to take alternate routes.
Preliminary investigations suggest that icy road conditions led to an initial collision involving around 20 vehicles, followed by additional crashes as cars continued to lose control. Police are conducting a detailed investigation into the exact cause of the accident.
Another chain-reaction crash involving eight vehicles occurred on the Muan-Gwangju Expressway this afternoon.
According to the Highway Patrol Unit of the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency, the accident took place around 1:20 p.m. near the North Muan Interchange in Muan County. The crash was triggered when a 25-ton cargo truck skidded on the icy road, leading to a series of collisions as vehicles behind it failed to slow down in time.
Six individuals, including drivers and passengers, sustained minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Flights canceled
The snow also severely impacted air travel, particularly at Jeju International Airport, where strong winds and blizzards forced the cancellation of 51 domestic flights and 12 international flights on Friday.
Additional delays are expected as the weather is likely to worsen in the afternoon, a Jeju Airport official said, adding that landing is especially difficult with strong winds and the limited vision. Korean Air canceled all 23 flights departing from Jeju between 10 a.m. and 6:35 p.m., with airline officials warning of further disruptions.
Jeju Airport was scheduled to have 187 domestic departures and arrivals, respectively, with 21 international departures and 18 international arrivals on Friday. So far, only 39 domestic departures, 40 domestic arrivals and 10 international departures and 6 international arrivals have taken place.
More road accidents were reported elsewhere.
In South Chungcheong Province, a 1-ton truck skidded on an icy highway and collided with a 12-ton truck, critically injuring a man in his 70s.
In Gangwon Province’s Hongcheon County, a 72-year-old man was fatally struck by a sliding tow truck near a resort on Thursday night. A bus carrying 26 passengers also lost control on an icy road in the same area, injuring four people. Additional collisions were reported in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Yeosu, South Jeolla Province and Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, with authorities struggling to keep up with road maintenance and rescue operations.
The Korea Meteorological Administration warned of continued snowfall in mountainous and inland regions, predicting up to 8 centimeters of additional snow. Authorities urged drivers to check road conditions and equip vehicles with winter gear to prevent further accidents.
The cold snap is expected to persist until Sunday, with icy temperatures continuing nationwide. Daytime highs on Friday are expected to range from minus 9 to 4 degrees Celsius, with Seoul recording a high of minus 8 degrees, while wind chills pulled them as low as minus 15 degrees.
The cold snap will continue throughout Saturday, with morning lows expected to be between minus 17 and minus 5 degrees and highs from minus 4 to 4 degrees, remaining below seasonal averages. The cold is forecast to ease gradually starting Monday, with daytime highs recovering to above freezing.
jychoi@heraldcorp.com
