Flights canceled, Seoul bridge submerged as monsoon pounds S. Korea

SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- Local flights were canceled and a bridge across
Seoul's Han River was flooded as the annual monsoon season descended upon South
Korea with force, officials here said Sunday.

Downpours brought up to 30-40mm of rain per hour, flooding dozens of houses and
taking at least 12 fishing ships out of operation, according to the state-run
disaster relief agency.
Several flights into and out of the southeastern port city of Busan were canceled
due to rainfall and strong winds, and Seoul closed Jamsu Bridge to cars and
pedestrians due to high water levels at 10 a.m. Sunday. The low-lying bridge was
fully submerged by 1:30 p.m.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) warned of torrential rain in
several regions including Seoul and most of Gyeonggi, Gangwon and Chungcheong
provinces.
"The warnings will expand to other regions as the seasonal rain front is expected
to head up North later in the day," a KMA official said.
Visiting the national disaster relief agency earlier in the day, Prime Minister
Han Seung-soo asked for active measures to minimize flood-related damage.
"We must expand the 'hotline' system, currently operated in 71 cities across the
country, to smaller regions to actively prepare for floods and torrential rain,"
he said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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