Typhoon-like Sudden Frost Hits Nation

Due to strong winds with heavy rain and snow across the nation for two days on March 4 and 5, damage was caused including the breakdown of ships and facilities and the suspension of airplane services.

Ships Sunk and Oil Spilled-

On Monday morning, a 480 ton class Russian ship called the Sulim, which was at anchor in a harbor in Namhang, Seo-gu, Busan, was swept away by waves and partly sunk. Coast guards and fire officials rescued three of the crew members.

A 1.3 ton class gill netter called H, which was at anchor in Nasari Harbor in Seosaeng Ulju-gun, Ulsan, was overturn by strong winds at 10:00 a.m. yesterday.

Moreover, a tugboat named IlsungT1 (134t) was stranded by strong winds and spilled roughly 50,000 liters of bunker oil in Haye, Seogwipo, Jeju at 6:30 p.m. on March 4 as coast guards worked on preventing the oil from spreading.

Sea Routes and Airways Blocked—

A regularly-run passenger ship that goes between Pohang and Ulleung was canceled on March 5, and roughly 360 ships were tied up together in 64 harbors in the Gangwon area due to the strong winds with high surf. Also, about 3,500 ships urgently took shelter.

On the west coast, because all service of regular passenger ships and excursion ships were closed, 51 sea routes were shut and 74 ships were tied up at harbors.

Six Korean Air flights from Jeju to Seoul and Jeju to Busan were canceled and three Asiana flights, from Yeosu and Mokpo airports, were canceled or delayed.

Korea Railroads announced on March 5 that it limited the highest speed on 13 KTXs, starting at 9:10 a.m. to 11:10 a.m., to less than 170km, which run 63km of railroad tracks between Yeongdong, Chungbuk and Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, which are on the Seoul-Busan line.

The usual KTX speed of those tracks is 300 km.

People Were Harmed and Ski Resorts Damaged-

Kim (female, 43) who climbed up Mt. Udu in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province, accompanied with 16 colleagues, was lost in foggy and rainy weather and was found exhausted and moved to a hospital by the 119 rescue party.

One hundred thirty plastic green houses in Jinju and Sacheon were damaged by the strong winds causing three billion won in damage. In particular, since the plastic covers of the green houses were torn off and flew away, there was huge damage caused to watermelons and strawberries, which were about to be harvested.

Moreover, the Yongpyong Ski Resort in Pyeongchang and High1 Resort in Jeongseon suspended their services and other ski resorts stopped operating ski lifts for safety. Seorak National Park also suspended its cable cars running from Mt. Seorak Small Park to Gwongeumseong.