Biggest November snowstorm in 52 years hits Seoul, grounds flights

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — 

The biggest November snowstorm to deed South Korea's superior successful much than a fractional period blanketed the superior Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights, disrupting commuter postulation and leaving astatine slightest 2 dead.

South Korea's upwind bureau said 20 to 26 centimeters of snowfall fell successful bluish areas of Seoul and adjacent areas. The bureau said it was the heaviest snowstorm Seoul has experienced successful November successful 52 years. A tempest connected November 28, 1972, dumped 12 centimeters.

South Korea's Yonhap quality bureau said 1 idiosyncratic died and 4 others were injured successful a five-vehicle mishap successful the eastbound municipality of Hongcheon.

In the municipality of Yangju, a tent-type store collapsed and killed a idiosyncratic who was removing snow, according to South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The snowfall caused impermanent powerfulness outages astatine astir 230 homes successful the metropolis of Gwangju, adjacent Seoul, according to the Gyeonggi provincial government.

The tempest blanketed overmuch of the country, with the central, eastbound and southwestern regions signaling astir 10 to 28 centimeters of cover.

At slightest 317 flights were canceled oregon delayed astatine airports nationwide, portion authorities ordered astir 90 ferries to stay astatine port. They besides unopen down hundreds of hiking trails.

Icy roadworthy conditions slowed down the greeting commute successful Seoul and led to monolithic crowds astatine subways, causing delays. Emergency workers crossed the state responded to fallen trees, roadworthy signs and different information risks.

Officials astatine the Safety Ministry said they couldn't corroborate immoderate schoolhouse closures arsenic of Wednesday afternoon.

Visitors dressed successful accepted hanbok garb were engaged taking photographs astatine Seoul's snow-covered medieval palaces portion snowmen popped up successful playgrounds and schoolyards crossed the country.

The upwind bureau said snowfall volition proceed successful astir parts of the state until noon Thursday.

President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the information and transport ministries to mobilize each disposable applicable unit and instrumentality to forestall postulation and different accidents.