"Khanun" Causes Floods and Evacuations in South Korea

Authorities in South Korea have evacuated more than 14,000 people and closed schools in areas affected by flooding, as Tropical Storm "Khanun" swept across the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, after hitting southern Japan for a week. Khanun is expected to hit the city of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, by early Friday. Official media there reported that an order was issued to the military and the ruling party to prepare to take measures to mitigate the impact of the floods and protect crops. The Meteorological Agency indicated that the storm caused rainfall of 60 millimeters per hour in some towns along the eastern coast. Wind speeds reached a maximum of 126 kilometers per hour in the coastal city of Busan. The South Korean Ministry of Interior stated that authorities canceled about 350 flights and shut down 450 railway lines, in addition to relocating over 14,000 people to safe areas. The ministry also noted that a person using a wheelchair is missing in Daegu in the southeastern part of the country after falling into a river, and that authorities are investigating the death of another individual.