Typhoon Rusa Batters S. Korea, 80 Feared Dead

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 02, 2002

Typhoon Rusa Batters S. Korea, 80 Feared Dead

Typhoon Rusa ripped through South Korea over the weekend, leaving at least 80 people dead or missing from raging floodwaters and landslides.

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Typhoon Rusa ripped through South Korea over the weekend, leaving at least 80 people dead or missing from raging floodwaters and landslides.

The number of casualties is expected to soar as the damage toll is updated every hour.

The storm, this year's worst, brought torrential downpours and gusts, especially in the eastern swathes of the country as well as the already flood-ravaged southern regions.

Notably, the eastern coastal city of Kangnung suffered the worst damage, with a record of 870.5 mm of rains on Saturday alone, the largest daily precipitation since official meteorological observations began.

The entire city was virtually devastated, with scenes reminiscent of a war zone. Buildings and walls were destroyed by landslides and gusts, lamp poles were blown down and trees were uprooted.

The city with 220,000 inhabitants was swamped by waist-high swirling waters and plunged into darkness, as destructive winds knocked out power. It was virtually cut off, because major roads and communication services were unavailable.

Thousands of panicked residents were forced to spend sleepless nights in public facilities after being ordered to evacuate their low-lying homes.

Storm-inflicted damage was not limited to the city in Kangwon Province. The super typhoon, this year��s 15th, dumped 200-700mm of rains on Cholla, Kyongsang and Chungchong, while marching northeastwards after hitting land at Kohung, South Cholla Province, Saturday evening.

Authorities said more than 10,000 houses were swamped across the country, while hundreds of thousands of households were experienced power blackouts.

Train service was halted between Taejon and Taegu as heavy rains flooded an approximately 300-meter-section of the railway near Taejon. It was the second time for floods to disrupt the nation��s railways.

Major roads, including the Kyongbu and Yongdong expressways, were also closed, partially paralyzing the key traffic networks.

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