South Korea’s capital, Seoul, has faced its heaviest November snowfall on record, bringing power cuts and flight disruption.
The densely populated city was blanketed in the first snowfall of this year’s winter, with 16.5cm (6.5 inches) dumped by 7am on Wednesday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
It was four centimetres more than the previous record-setting snowfall on 28 November 1972, when residents witnessed 12.4cm of snow.
The KMA said it was the heaviest of the November month since the records began more than a century ago in 1907.
The weather has led to dangerous conditions, with at least two people killed and four others injured in a five-vehicle accident in the eastern town of Hongcheon following traffic accidents on highways in the east of the capital.
Some pedestrians were injured after debris and construction materials fell from buildings and construction sites due to strong winds.
The rare heavy November snow blizzard caught many in the country by surprise, as authorities grappled to restore power, clear roads and pavements and issue warnings.
오늘자 스노우볼 서울.❄️🌨️☃️
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☝️미끄럼 사고 등 안전에 유의하세요!
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밤사이 내린 눈으로 길이 미끄럽습니다. 야외 활동 및 자가용 운행을 자제해 주시고, 보행 안전에 각별히 주의하시기 바랍니다.
🔎대설대비 행동요령 https://t.co/NZNm4w2rlC...… pic.twitter.com/qVUvWzsqpb
More than 220 flights stood cancelled or delayed as the severe weather conditions impacted the airports across the country, leaving hundreds of passengers delayed.
At least 70 ferries were suspended as strong winds hit the coastal regions.
Treacherous icy roads disrupted the morning commute in Seoul, as emergency crews nationwide tackled safety hazards, including fallen trees.
Hundreds of households suffered blackouts in the early morning hours in Seoul and the central region as falling trees and snow damaged electricity lines.
Weather agencies in the country have warned of more snow and severe weather in the coming days for Seoul residents.
The Interior Ministry upgraded its disaster response saying up to 5cm an hour of snow was forecast through Thursday morning.
It warned of a risk of damage to facilities and property as the wet snow had a high concentration of moisture.
Meteorological officials have said a slow-moving low-pressure system north of the Korean Peninsula is pulling cold air from Russia’s far east toward the Yellow Sea, leading to snowfall. They said the snow blast was intensified by the warming up of the Yellow Sea, a result of climate change.
