Strong Winds and Heavy Rain Expected Through Today

The seventh typhoon of the season yesterday brought more than 200 millimeters of rain over the weekend and will continue to do so through late tonight.

“Typhoon Kalmaegi was over the sea 220 kilometers westwards from Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, as of 4 p.m. Sunday, and the small and weak typhoon is moving northeast at 29 kilometers per hour and turn into a tropical depression between six to 9 p.m.,” the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

“The weak tropical depression, however, will bring thunder and lightening, strong winds and heavy rain until Monday as it passes inland.”

Cheongju had 212 millimeters of rain; Seoul 203 millimeters; Suwon 207; Incheon 124; and Yangpyeong 176 millimeters between Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.

Clouds and rains are expected today and the weather will start clearing up in the southern provinces in the afternoon.

Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, western Gangwon Province, the Chungcheong region and five islands in the West Sea will have 50-150 millimeters of rain. The Jeolla provinces along the West Coast and the Gyeongsang region will have 40-120 millimeters.

Eastern Gangwon Province, the remainder of the Jeolla provinces and the mountainous areas of Jeju Island will see 30-80 millimeters of rain, and Jeju Island, Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets will have 10-40 millimeters.

Heavy rainfall also caused damage.

An 11-year-old girl went missing Saturday afternoon after being swept by rushing currents from a river in front of an apartment in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.

An elderly man and his wife were killed also on Saturday afternoon as their car was overturned by rain in South Chungcheong Province.

Three families comprising 10 people were stranded as the Hongcheon River flooded in Gangwon Province at noon Sunday. They escaped safely within an hour with the help of a rescue team.

Heavy rain also pushed 11 tons of soil at the construction site for the east-west highway to roads and rice paddies in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.

firedy@donga.com