Powerful typhoon causes injuries, damage in S. Korea

published : 23 Sep 2019 at 10:40

A yacht is pushed ashore by strong winds and high waves at a beach as Typhoon Tapah approaches in Ulsan, South Korea on Sunday. The powerful typhoon has battered southern South Korea after lashing parts of Japan’s southern islands with heavy rains and winds. (AP photo)

SEOUL, South Korea: A powerful typhoon battered southern South Korea, injuring 26 people and knocking out power to about 27,790 houses, officials said Monday.

A report from Arirang News (see video below) said several people were killed.

Typhoon Tapah earlier lashed parts of Japan's southern islands with heavy rains and winds that caused flooding and some minor injuries.

South Korea's interior ministry said Monday the typhoon also caused strong winds and heavy rainfall in southern South Korean cities and towns on Sunday and Monday. The storm did not make landfall on the peninsula as it moved northeast and weakened Monday.

The ministry said one person was hurt seriously and the 25 others had minor injuries. Some South Korean media had reported three deaths, but the ministry said none of those deaths was caused by the typhoon.

It flooded streets, damaged houses, and led to about 250 flight cancellations in 11 airports in South Korea, according to the ministry report.

South Korean weather officials said the typhoon likely caused light rain in eastern coastal towns in North Korea but won't likely cause damage there.

Typhoon Tapah hit the southern Japanese island of Okinawa on Friday and Saturday and left 18 people with minor injuries. The storm disrupted air and train travel in the region during what is a three-day holiday weekend.