Chaos as Seoul struggles under one foot of snow
Source: Agencies |
January 5, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SEOUL residents slogged through the heaviest snowfall in modern Korean history after a winter storm dumped more than 26 centimeters yesterday, forcing airports to cancel flights and paralyzing traffic in South Korea's bustling capital.
The snow and icy roads snarled traffic in and out of Seoul, and at least three people died in traffic accidents. Many commuters squeezed into packed subway trains to get to work, and a regular Cabinet meeting also was delayed yesterday because ministers were stuck in traffic.
The snowfall, which continued through yesterday afternoon, was the worst since Korea began conducting meteorological surveys in 1937, the state weather agency said.
Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul canceled 224 flights before resuming service yesterday afternoon when the snowfall stopped, airport official Choi Choon-ja said.
More than 20 flights between Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, and cities in China were canceled, as China also coped with a snowstorm. More than 100 flights to other regions were delayed, Incheon airport official Kang Soo-kyung said.
Three people were killed in a traffic accident believed caused by icy roads in southern South Korea earlier yesterday, according to Yonhap news agency. Yonhap reported the snowfall caused many other traffic accidents throughout South Korea, but officials said no deaths or serious property damages directly related to the snowfall were immediately reported.
About 3,600 workers were mobilized to clear the snow from Seoul's roads and sidewalks. About 5,000 soldiers also were dispatched to Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province, according to the Defense Ministry.
The snow didn't stop 50-year-old Park Hee-soon from her job delivering milk and yogurt to homes and offices in western Seoul. However, Park said the snow and ice were dangerous. "I slipped on streets several times today, and my back hurts because of that," she said.
The snow and icy roads snarled traffic in and out of Seoul, and at least three people died in traffic accidents. Many commuters squeezed into packed subway trains to get to work, and a regular Cabinet meeting also was delayed yesterday because ministers were stuck in traffic.
The snowfall, which continued through yesterday afternoon, was the worst since Korea began conducting meteorological surveys in 1937, the state weather agency said.
Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul canceled 224 flights before resuming service yesterday afternoon when the snowfall stopped, airport official Choi Choon-ja said.
More than 20 flights between Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, and cities in China were canceled, as China also coped with a snowstorm. More than 100 flights to other regions were delayed, Incheon airport official Kang Soo-kyung said.
Three people were killed in a traffic accident believed caused by icy roads in southern South Korea earlier yesterday, according to Yonhap news agency. Yonhap reported the snowfall caused many other traffic accidents throughout South Korea, but officials said no deaths or serious property damages directly related to the snowfall were immediately reported.
About 3,600 workers were mobilized to clear the snow from Seoul's roads and sidewalks. About 5,000 soldiers also were dispatched to Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province, according to the Defense Ministry.
The snow didn't stop 50-year-old Park Hee-soon from her job delivering milk and yogurt to homes and offices in western Seoul. However, Park said the snow and ice were dangerous. "I slipped on streets several times today, and my back hurts because of that," she said.
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