Typhoon Tembin hits Korea

Typhoon Tembin slammed into Korea on Thursday, dumping heavy rains on southern and western regions, leaving at least two dead and three injured. Nearly 50 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

Though smaller and less powerful than Typhoon Bolaven, which skirted the Korean Peninsula three days ago, Tembin wreaked havoc on the country as it passed through South Jeolla Province, quickly moving northeast-bound.

One person was killed and another was injured when a giant steel structure collapsed at a dockyard in Yeongam in the province.

A 66-year-old man was found dead buried under a landslide in Cheonan where 124 millimeters of rain poured, while two were injured in Busan by a flying object.

As of 1 p.m., it dumped 243.5 millimeters of rain in Jindo, 194 millimeters in Jeongeup and 181 millimeters in Mokpo. Most other cities in South and North Jeolla reported downpours of well over 120 millimeters.

“Typhoon Tembin has changed its course and is fast passing through the peninsula, moving east-northward from Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces to reach the sea off Gangneung, Gangwon Province, early Friday,” the Korea Meteorological Agency said.

Slightly weakened after landing, Tembin is now a small typhoon, with wind gusts of up to 28 meters per second and a radius of 170 kilometers, the KMA said.

In Jeju, 19 schools closed on the day and 42 others adjusted their class schedules.

Electricity to 4,000 households was cut while windows of houses were shattered and sign boards and light poles on roads were damaged.

All domestic flights at Jeju International Airport and 180 domestic flights at the international airports in Incheon and Busan were canceled.

The recovery work for damage by Bolaven was hampered.

The maritime police temporarily stopped the rescue work for seven Chinese fishermen who went missing Tuesday in the western sea off Jeju.

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said the government would make every effort to minimize possible damage by Tembin with all resources and pledged to provide help for those whose livelihoods were affected by Bolaven.

Bolaven, which swept across the nation Monday and Tuesday, left 20 people dead, seven missing, and 2 million houses temporarily without power.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)