Casualties Reported as Strong Winds Batter Jeju for Second Day

Damage continues to mount as strong winds sweep across Jeju for a second consecutive day, trapped between a low-pressure system to the south and a high-pressure system to the north.

According to the Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration, Jeju is experiencing strong northeasterly winds driven by a steep pressure gradient between a high-pressure system moving eastward from northeastern China and a southern low-pressure system formed by Typhoon Krovan.

Consequently, strong wind advisories have been issued for all land areas across Jeju, while gale warnings are in effect for nearby coastal waters.

As of 2:00 PM today, peak instantaneous wind speeds at major locations included 24.6 meters per second at Sajebi in Mount Halla, 23.1 meters per second at Mara Island, 22 meters per second at Udo, 19.3 meters per second at Gapado, 18.9 meters per second at Saebyeol Oreum, 18.5 meters per second at Jeju International Airport, 17.8 meters per second at Gosan, and 15.9 meters per second at Seongsan.

According to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Fire Safety Headquarters, a total of 41 rescue, emergency, and safety measures have been carried out over the past two days due to the strong winds.

Fire authorities rescued two people who were stranded on coastal rocks due to high waves along the coast of Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo, yesterday afternoon. They also transported to hospitals a person injured after being struck by flying debris in Beobhwan-dong, Seogwipo, and another person injured after colliding with a wind barrier while weeding in Gujwa-eup, Jeju.

In addition, from early yesterday morning until late evening, safety measures were taken for 36 various incidents across the province, including falling building exteriors, leaning utility poles, damaged traffic lights, shaking road signs, fallen trees, and overturned median barriers.

Today, fire authorities took safety measures following reports of a fallen tree in Hanrim-eup, Jeju, at around 9:06 AM, and a risk of a solar panel falling from a lighthouse in Aewol-eup, Jeju, at around 11:00 AM.

Notably, although not officially counted in the fire safety headquarters' strong wind damage tally, a crane toppling while being operated on a barge moored at Jeju Port yesterday afternoon resulted in one death and one serious injury.

At the time of the accident, Geonip-dong in Jeju, where Jeju Port is located, was experiencing strong winds of 20.5 meters per second.

The Korea Coast Guard is investigating the exact cause of the accident, believing that the crane collapsed due to strong winds during steel plate repair work on the barge's deck.

With strong wind advisories for northern Jeju and Chuja Island forecasted to be lifted on the morning of the 7th, and those for the eastern, western, and southern parts of Jeju expected to be lifted only by the early hours of the 8th, concerns over additional wind damage persist.

Jeju Province has urged citizens to thoroughly manage outdoor facilities and refrain from entering sandy beaches, coastal rocks, or breakwaters until the wind and wave advisories are lifted.

(Photo provided by Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.