Typhoon 'Jongdari' Causes Nationwide Restrictions... Severe Heatwave Warning Maintained

No Casualties from Typhoon
But Over 2,800 Heat-Related Illnesses Due to Heatwave

As Typhoon 'Jongdari' swept through the southern regions, nationwide walking trails and ship operations were suspended, while rain clouds made landfall in the central regions. Although there were no casualties caused by the typhoon, heatwave conditions continue despite the heavy rain, leading to an increase in heat-related illnesses and other damages.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 21st, Typhoon Jongdari weakened into a tropical depression around 9 PM the previous day near the sea about 30 km south-southeast of Heuksando Island, then continued moving northeast while bringing rain. A tropical depression refers to a weakened typhoon with a maximum wind speed at the center below 17 m/s. The Seoul metropolitan area is expected to receive rainfall of 30 to 50 mm per hour until daytime. Inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province are forecasted to receive 30 to 50 mm until daytime, the western coast of Chungnam and northern inland Chungnam are expected to receive 30 to 50 mm until the morning, and other areas are forecasted to have a maximum hourly rainfall of around 30 mm. As of 8 AM, heavy rain warnings were issued for the Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul, central and northern inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, Chungnam region, and the southern coast of Gyeongnam.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

No casualties were reported due to Typhoon Jongdari. The fire department conducted three rescue operations related to house flooding and fallen trees. In Ulsan, where up to 87 mm of rain fell per hour the previous day, vehicle flooding occurred at locations such as Ulju-gun Korean Paper, Wonsan Intersection, and Ilseong Intersection, resulting in towing operations.

Due to the heavy rain, many areas nationwide remain closed. Access has been restricted to 201 sections across 8 parks including Jirisan, Gyeryongsan, and Hallasan, 44 Sewol bridges, and 25 riverside parking lots. Additionally, 996 walking trails and 74 beaches nationwide, including those in Seoul, are also closed. Passenger ferry services on five routes with 10 vessels, including Mokpo~Yulmok, Mokpo~Hongdo, and Gangneung~Ulleung, have been suspended.

Typically, typhoons bring cooler temperatures along with rain, but this time the heatwave alert remains at the 'severe' level. The cumulative number of heat-related illness patients this year is 2,890, which is 389 more than the same period last year (2,501). Property damage is also mounting, with approximately 997,000 livestock deaths and about 5,672,000 aquaculture losses.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, rain will continue in various parts of the country until the next day, and even after it stops, the maximum perceived temperature in most regions nationwide is expected to remain very hot at 33 to 35 degrees Celsius. Many areas will also experience tropical nights, where the minimum nighttime temperature exceeds 25 degrees Celsius.