A record-breaking snowstorm has swept across South Korea, leaving three people dead and causing widespread disruption to transportation, Al Jazeera reports.
The country experienced its second day of heavy snowfall on Thursday, with up to 40cm (15.7 inches) accumulating in parts of Seoul by 11am (02:00 GMT).
The casualties occurred primarily in Gyeonggi province, which surrounds the capital. One person died when a snow-laden golf practice net collapsed in Pyeongtaek, while another succumbed to injuries sustained from a falling tree in Yongin, according to the Yonhap news agency. A multi-vehicle pile-up on a highway in Wonju, Gangwon province, injured 11 people on Wednesday evening, though no fatalities were reported from that incident.
The severe weather has significantly impacted transportation. The Interior Ministry reported that 156 flights were cancelled and 104 ferry services disrupted nationwide. At Incheon International Airport, Seoul’s main airport, passengers faced average delays of two hours, with 14 percent of flights delayed and 15 percent cancelled, according to Flightradar24.
In response, the Seoul city government mobilized 11,000 personnel and 20,000 pieces of equipment for snow removal operations. Schools in Gyeonggi province were given permission to close if necessary.
Wednesday’s snowfall was the heaviest November snowfall in Seoul in over a century, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The storm also caused 131 temporary power outages, with 46 restored by the end of Wednesday. Authorities attribute the unusually heavy snowfall to warmer-than-usual seawaters west of the Korean Peninsula colliding with cold air currents.
Neighboring North Korea also experienced significant snowfall, with some areas receiving over 10cm (4 inches) between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Korean Central Television.
