Snowy long commute... Subzero cold wave continues through the weekend

Traffic Accidents Occur Nationwide Due to Sudden Heavy Snowfall
Cold Wave Warnings Issued for Central, Eastern Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk
Magnitude 3.1 Earthquake Strikes Northwest of Chungju

Snow from a sudden heavy snowfall stopped overnight but has resumed falling since early morning. As a large amount of snow falls, traffic accidents continue to occur across the country. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 7th, snow is forecast nationwide, with heavy snowfall expected mainly in the central region and Jeolla area. Snow will mostly stop in the morning in the Seoul metropolitan area and inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon, and in the afternoon in the Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions. In other areas, snow will continue until the 8th.

Vehicles are moving slowly due to heavy snowfall near Osan IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

The cold wave that turned the entire country into a freezer after the Lunar New Year holiday is expected to continue through the weekend. On the morning of the 7th, the lowest temperature is expected to be between -15 and 0 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperature during the day between -8 and 3 degrees Celsius, which is 3 to 10 degrees lower than the average (lowest -11 to 0 degrees Celsius, highest 2 to 9 degrees Celsius). A cold wave warning has been issued for the central region, eastern Jeonbuk, and inland Gyeongbuk. For the time being, morning temperatures will be below -10 degrees Celsius in most parts of the country (below -15 degrees Celsius in the central inland, eastern Jeonbuk, and northern Gyeongbuk), and daytime temperatures will also be below 0 degrees Celsius in most areas (below -5 degrees Celsius in the central region and some southern inland areas). Strong winds will make the wind chill even lower, making it very cold.

Cold wave and snow damage continue. Roads covered with ice are very slippery, so extra caution while driving is required. Near a large resort in Daegok-ri, Seomyeon, Hongcheon-gun, a large bus driver, Mr. B, was hit by a tow vehicle and died around 10:05 p.m. on the 6th. At the same location at 5:16 p.m. on the same day, a bus heading to Seoul slipped on the snowy road and hit the roadside curb, injuring 4 out of 26 passengers. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) report on snow response, as of 6 a.m. that day, 67 passenger ships stopped operating on 54 routes including Jindo-Jeju, Gunsan-Eocheong, and Incheon-Baengnyeong. Roads were closed in 20 locations: 2 in Seoul, 1 in Chungbuk, 4 in Chungnam, 4 in Jeonbuk, 5 in Jeonnam, and 4 in Jeju. There are no closed sections on national highways or expressways yet.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake occurred at 2:35:34 a.m. on the 7th, 22 km northwest of Chungju-si, Chungbuk. The epicenter is located at 37.14 degrees north latitude and 127.76 degrees east longitude. According to the Fire Agency, as of 5 a.m. that day, 23 reports of feeling the earthquake were received: 13 in Gangwon, 8 in Chungbuk, and 2 in Gyeonggi. No damage reports have been received so far, but authorities are checking for any additional damage. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held a CDSCH meeting and urgently dispatched an on-site situation manager to Chungju-si.