Trees Down and Traffic Lights Blown Away... Typhoon 'Haishen' Causes Continuous Damage in Busan (Update)

'Haiseon' Approaches Busan... Road Closures and Strong Wind Damage Continue

Typhoon Haishen, the 10th typhoon of the season, is moving northward, and on the morning of the 7th, a traffic light in Yeongdo-gu, Busan, was broken by strong winds.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As Typhoon No. 10 'Haishen' moves northward, strong winds exceeding 26 meters per second are blowing in Busan, causing continuous damage. Due to the strong winds, facilities such as traffic lights and street trees are being knocked down, resulting in repeated damage, so special caution is required.

As of 5 a.m. on the 7th, the Busan Police Agency received a total of 19 damage reports, most of which were caused by strong winds. At around 2:38 a.m. that day, a traffic light was broken by strong winds in Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu, Busan.

Earlier, at around 2:17 a.m., a street tree fell at the intersection near Peace Church in Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu.

The Busan Fire and Disaster Headquarters also received a total of 61 damage reports, including concerns about signboard falls due to strong winds, prompting 119 rescue teams to make emergency dispatches.

Typhoon Haishen, the 10th typhoon of the season, is moving northward, and on the morning of the 7th, street trees have fallen onto the road in Busanjin-gu, Busan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In addition, road closures due to strong winds are continuing. Following the closure of the Geoga Bridge connecting Busan and Geoje, Gyeongnam at midnight, Suyeon Bridge, Yeonan Bridge, and Sebyeong Bridge in Dongnae-gu were also closed.

The road section from Deokcheon Drainage Pump Station to Hwamyun Ecological Park and both directions of Sugwan Bridge were closed. Subsequently, container trucks are being selectively controlled on Busan Harbor Bridge and Namhang Bridge, and from 5:20 a.m., Eulsukdo Bridge was fully closed, bringing the total number of controlled sections to 15.

Train operations have also been suspended. The Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit stopped operating from the first train at 5 a.m. that day.

KORAIL suspended operations on the entire Donghae Line and some sections of the Gyeongbu Line from the first train on the 7th until the typhoon passes, as the area enters the typhoon's influence zone.

The Donghae Line suspended Mugunghwa train operations on all sections including Bujeon?Pohang, Pohang?Yeongdeok, Dongdaegu?Bujeon, and Donghae?Gangneung.

On the morning of the 7th, due to the influence of Typhoon Haishen, a road sign on a road in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, fell, and firefighters are taking safety measures.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The KTX running between Seoul and Donghae changed its departure and arrival stations to Gangneung. The Donghae Line electric trains have suspended operations on the entire Bujeon?Ilgwang section.

Busan Metro Lines 1 to 4 and city buses are operating normally.

Currently, Busan City is operating a Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in response to the northward movement of Haishen and is closely monitoring weather conditions. The city evacuated 116 residents from typhoon risk areas in advance by the night of the previous day (6th).

Meanwhile, along with strong winds, rain is falling at about 10 mm per hour across Busan. Current rainfall amounts are 81 mm in Geumjeong-gu, 58.5 mm in Dongnae, 54 mm in Buk-gu, and 48.5 mm in Busanjin.