Unusual typhoon Khanun hits South Korea, "across" the Korean peninsula

Typhoon Khanun made landfall on the southeastern coast near Geoje Island at 9:20 a.m. on August 10, causing heavy rain and flooding in several provinces and cities. Authorities said the storm caused flooding, landslides and major damage to infrastructure nationwide.

Due to Typhoon Khanun, 355 flights were canceled at 14 airports in South Korea on August 10. Authorities had to block or close nearly 500 roads and 166 coastal areas.

Cơn bão bất thường Khanun đổ bộ Hàn Quốc, xuyên dọc” bán đảo Triều Tiên - Ảnh 1.

Typhoon Khanun causes flooding in Changwon City, South Korea, August 10. Photo: Yonhap

According to government figures, a total of 1,579 schools at all levels have suspended, cut classes or switched to online learning due to the storm, while 10,641 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters, as of 11 a.m. on August 10.

Yonhap news agency reported that a 67-year-old man was found dead in a flooded river in Daegu at around 1 p.m. on August 10. A man in a wheelchair was reported missing after falling into floodwaters in the same city at 1:45 p.m.

Cơn bão bất thường Khanun đổ bộ Hàn Quốc, xuyên dọc” bán đảo Triều Tiên - Ảnh 2.

The road leading to a village in Daegu City, South Korea, is flooded. Photo: Yonhap

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), at 3:00 p.m. on August 10, the storm was moving north-northwest at a speed of 35 km/h, 40 km west of Andong City.

Unusual typhoon Khanun hits South Korea, "across" the Korean peninsula

"After making landfall, Typhoon Khanun weakened as its maximum wind speed dropped to 104 km/h. It is expected to move northward at a speed of 19-33 km/h before entering southern Korea. The slow movement of the typhoon will prolong the rain and cause more damage," the KMA said.

Cơn bão bất thường Khanun đổ bộ Hàn Quốc, xuyên dọc” bán đảo Triều Tiên - Ảnh 4.

Storm winds blow off the roof of a building in Ulsan City, South Korea. Photo: Yonhap

The KMA forecasts that Typhoon Khanun will be 40 kilometers east-southeast of the capital Seoul at around 9 p.m. tonight.

Yonhap said Khanun's projected path is unprecedented as it is the first typhoon to cross the Korean Peninsula vertically since the agency began keeping records in 1951. The storm will take about 15 hours to cross South Korea from south to north.

Typhoon Khanun is considered by weather forecasters to be an unusual storm. Its path follows a zigzag pattern, changing direction suddenly and continuously, affecting China, Japan and South Korea for nearly 10 days.

Cơn bão bất thường Khanun đổ bộ Hàn Quốc, xuyên dọc” bán đảo Triều Tiên - Ảnh 5.

Fire spreads to Lahaina on Maui island. Photo: AP

Cơn bão bất thường Khanun đổ bộ Hàn Quốc, xuyên dọc” bán đảo Triều Tiên - Ảnh 6.

Smoke rises near boats docked at Lahaina Harbor in Hawaii. Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, in Hawaii, at least 36 people have died as wildfires spread rapidly on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate and a state of emergency has been declared. Firefighters are still battling the blazes.

Wildfires in Hawaii, at least 36 people dead

A massive search and rescue operation is underway, according to the BBC . Kamuela Kawaakoa, who was at the evacuation site with her six-year-old son, told the AP news agency: "We barely got out. It's hard to sit there and just watch the town burn to the ground and not be able to do anything."

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