Super Typhoon Directly Hits Gyeongnam... Small Business Owners Devastated Ahead of Chuseok

Farmers, Businesses, and Market Merchants in the Province on High Alert as Typhoon Approaches

[Image source=Korea Meteorological Administration Weather Nuri]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Ahead of Chuseok, the traditional Korean holiday, an ultra-powerful typhoon is expected to move northward toward Gyeongnam, putting farmers, fishermen, businesses, and small merchants in the province on high alert.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 2nd, Typhoon No. 11, Hinnamnor, is turning toward the Korean Peninsula, and Gyeongnam is expected to face significant impact.

The news that the typhoon will pass through Gyeongnam and Busan has turned the traffic light red for sales of small merchants and companies aiming for the holiday peak season.

Farmers and fishermen are worried that the typhoon will directly hit the fruits yet to be harvested and the rice crops approaching harvest season.

Aquaculture fishermen are thoroughly preparing to minimize damage before the typhoon arrives, fearing that a year’s worth of farming could be wiped out by the storm.

Small merchant A said, “With COVID-19 restrictions reducing customers, now with the typhoon coming, even fewer people will come out. It’s scary to think that inventory might pile up when it’s already hard to cover rent and labor costs.”

Fisherman B said, “During Typhoon Maemi, the cage aquaculture we had cultivated for years was almost destroyed. This time, we are securing the nets more firmly and tying down the boats to prevent them from drifting away.”

Orchard operator C said, “Due to the scorching heat, the trees dried out and diseases spread, making it hard to grow fruit. It’s nerve-wracking to think that the fruit we worked hard to grow might fall because of the rain and wind.”

Typhoon Hinnamnor response situation meeting.

Earlier, Gyeongnam Province, together with cities and counties, began preemptive measures on the 31st to avoid repeating the nightmare of Typhoon Maemi, which swept through Masan Fish Market in Changwon City. They inspected the operating status of drainage pump stations, disaster warning facilities, drainage systems, and CCTV in high-risk areas.

They ordered maintenance of drainage channels and reinforcement of orchard support facilities to protect crops such as grains and fruits that are in the harvest season from typhoon damage.

They also checked the safety of fisheries breeding and aquaculture farms, offshore cage facilities, vessels, construction site tower cranes, falling hazard materials, and outdoor advertisements.

From the 2nd to the 5th, inspections will be conducted on greenhouses, orchards, agricultural infrastructure, livestock, aquaculture, and distribution facilities across all cities and counties, and guidelines for farmers’ actions will be promoted.

The province is monitoring the typhoon’s path 24 hours a day and is on standby to immediately activate the disaster response headquarters to ensure emergency response capability.

Governor Park Wan-su emphasized, “Thoroughly conduct pre-inspections of semi-basement houses and low-lying areas prone to flooding, apartment retaining walls, and landslide risk areas where casualties were high in the central region.”

He added, “If the typhoon moves north and directly affects Gyeongnam, strong rain and wind could cause damage. Please avoid going out as much as possible when the typhoon comes and listen carefully to disaster broadcasts announced on the radio or TV.”