Typhoon Lingling hits Korean Peninsula

2019-09-07 17

태풍 링링 한반도 강타... 강풍 피해 우려

Our top story today... Typhoon Lingling is inching closer toward the South Korean capital Seoul... after causing damage to the southern and western islands and the coastal areas.
As typhoon warnings are in place for the most parts of the country,... emergency authorities are strongly advising people to refrain from going outside.
To hear more about the powerful typhoon, we have our Kan Hyeong-woo, who is at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul.
Hyeong-woo, how's it looking?
Mok-yeon, as you can see... the wind is getting stronger by the minute. I came out here about three hours ago. It wasn't as windy as it is right now. The maximum windspeed of Lingling has gone down a little compared to yesterday, but it's still powerful enough to uproot trees and flip over cars.
I received a safety instruction message from the Seoul Metropolitan Government about two hours ago.
It said from noon to 1 PM - which is right now - Typhoon Lingling is at its closest to Seoul.
The alert advised the residents to watch out for breaking windows and falling objects.
It added that it's best to refrain from all outdoor activities.
You can feel how fast the typhoon is moving by looking up at the sky, where you can see the clouds drifting at a noticeable pace.
Like the safety message I received earlier, if you are living in Seoul, it's strongly advised that you do not go outside because Typhoon Lingling is expected to do the most damage to the capital city in the next few hours.
Weather experts say the biggest threat from Lingling is its strong winds, not the rainfall.
A sudden gust of wind could be dangerous... especially for the elderly and the young.
If you are walking along a river, please do keep a safe distance as the water level could rapidly increase and pose a threat... or the wind could cause a big surge from the water. ( )
There's no way to stop the storm from coming, but we can reduce the damage... by preparing for the worst and following the advice of the emergency authorities.
Stay safe and we will keep you updated on the latest in our later newscast.