Typhoon Muifa passes along South Korea's west coast, killing at least 4

Typhoon Muifa passes along South Korea's west coast, killing at least 4

2011-08-09 09:37:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEOUL (BNO NEWS) -- Typhoon Muifa passed South Korea's capital of Seoul along the peninsula's west coast on Monday evening, leaving at least four dead and two others missing as it moved northward towards China, the Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.

Among the typhoon's casualties is a 75-year-old man who was found dead on late Sunday on Wan Island, located at the southern tip of South Jeolla Province, after going missing while trying to moor a 1-ton ship in stormy seas, the National Emergency Management Agency said.

Two more people were killed in the same province as Muifa battered southern cities along the lower half of South Korea's west coast on Sunday, Yonhap reported.

One more person was reported dead in the southern port city of Busan in the aftermath of torrential rains and strong winds that accompanied the typhoon. Two people remained missing after being swept away by stormy seas and are feared to have been killed as well, the agency noted.

In addition, some 220 people were left homeless in the southern coast city of Yeosu after a downpour accompanying Muifa flooded their homes. South Jeolla Province, one of the regions hit hardest by the typhoon, reported several ruined roads and power failure for some 150,000 households.

Hundreds of flights in the area were also canceled due to the typhoon and ensuing heavy rains on Sunday, while passenger ships and other fishing boats were moored in the Yellow Sea.

As Muifa's weakened and no further damage was reported, the weather authorities lifted most of its typhoon warnings across the country on Monday afternoon.

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