By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
High waves overturn a vessel in Namchon-dong, southeastern port city of Pusan, Tuesday as Typhoon Nabi approaches the nation. /Korea Times
More than 100 schools in southern regions of the nation temporarily closed Tuesday and more than 100 flights were grounded due to strong winds and heavy rains brought by Typhoon Nabi.
A total of 136 kindergartens and elementary schools in the southeastern port city of Pusan, which has been blanketed by the typhoon, were forced to temporarily shut down.
The typhoon moving fast about 120 kilometers north of Kagoshima, Japan, as of 8 p.m. Tuesday also disrupted the classes in 39 primary and secondary schools in Pohang, North Kyongsang Province.
About 100 flights connecting Kimpo to Pusan, Ulsan, Pohang and Sachon, including international flights to Japan, have been cancelled due to downpours and gusts.
In Pusan, about 700 small- and medium-sized cargo vessels were tied to the deck and some 2,000 small boats took shelter in the nearby ports.
About 3,000 vessels were evacuated to about 100 harbors on Cheju Island while some 1,000 fishing boats took shelter in the ports at Yosu and Mokpo, South Cholla Province.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that the nation will be clear of the typhoon as it has swerved eastward after landing on Japan Tuesday.
The KMA said that up to 200 millimeters of rain will continue to fall in North Kyongsang Province, Ullungdo and Dokdo until Wednesday.
About 5-30 millimeters of rain will also drench Kyonggi and Chungchong provinces and Cheju Island until Wednesday. Some 50-150 mm of rain is forecast to fall on eastern and southern coastal areas.
``People living in eastern coastal areas should keep alert for possible damage from strong winds and heavy rains,’’ a KMA official said.
chungay@koreatimes.co.kr
