Typhoon Khanun’s force dwindled from earlier forecasts as it traversed northward along the peninsula, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration’s recent report. By Friday at 6 a.m., Khanun had exited the nation, entering North Korea and charting a course toward the capital, Pyongyang.
The nationwide typhoon advisories were rescinded, and the threat level was downgraded from “serious” to “alert.” Despite initial concerns, Khanun’s actual impact proved less severe.
Over a span of 16 hours spanning Thursday and Friday, Typhoon Khanun caused 379 instances of reported damage. The aftermath included wreckage at 196 public sites and 183 private locations by Friday at 11 a.m., as disclosed by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Among these figures were 70 incidents of roads submerged or damaged, and 30 houses subjected to flooding. The extensive flooding and landslides prompted the closure of 676 roads.
Predominantly, the southeastern and east coastal regions bore the brunt of the destruction. These regions were not only the initial points of landfall but also the typhoon’s active trajectory.
Approximately 40,000 households encountered power outages due to the storm. Thankfully, 94.2 percent of these households saw their electricity restored by early afternoon on Friday. The aftermath led to the evacuation of over 15,000 residents, of whom only 9,741 have been able to return to their homes so far. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported.
Though Typhoon Khanun did result in a fatality and a missing person in Daegu on Thursday, these incidents were not directly attributed to the typhoon.
Minor damage was documented at 34 schools by Friday morning. School buildings experienced flooding, and soil runoff was observed. In response, the Ministry of Education deployed personnel for on-site assessments and pledged assistance in restoring the damaged facilities.
In response to Khanun’s impact, President Yoon Suk Yeol issued directives to the government on Friday. He urged swift and effective measures to aid those affected by the typhoon. Yoon’s spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, conveyed the president’s sentiments, emphasizing that the nation’s proactive control measures played a pivotal role in minimizing human casualties.
Yoon also highlighted the significance of early evacuations in vulnerable areas. With more than 15,000 people evacuated and approximately 2,400 underpasses preemptively closed, Yoon underlined the importance of such preparedness.
Minister of the Interior and Safety, Lee Sang-min, called upon relevant government bodies and local authorities to collaborate in assisting the typhoon’s victims in resuming their normal lives. As part of the post-typhoon response, Lee announced the ministry’s commitment to enhancing preemptive strategies that effectively curbed human losses through timely evacuations and rapid responses.