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Flights delayed, roads blocked for safety control in Seoul amid heavy snow warning
By Lim Jeong-yeoPublished : Dec. 18, 2017 - 10:02
Heavy snowfall hit the capital city of Seoul on Monday morning, quickly accumulating and slowing down traffic. Flights were delayed or canceled, and roads in the mountainous regions in the city were blocked due to safety concerns.
For the first time this winter, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a heavy snow warning over Seoul and Gyeonggi Province cities including Seongnam, Yangpyeong, Gwangju, Hanam, Namyangju, Guri and Gwacheon.
The warning was lifted from Gwacheon, Gimpo, Seongnam and Gwangju as of 12:30 p.m. and in Guri, Namyangju, Hanam and Yangpyeong as of 1:30 p.m.
The KMA forecast the snowfall will halt briefly during the day, but start anew in the afternoon to collect 1 to 2 centimeters more.
About 4.8 centimeters of snow had blanketed Seoul by 11 a.m., with over 3 centimeters in Incheon, 2.5 centimeters in Yangpyeong and 2 centimeters in Gimpo.
With the heavy snow warning, 89 planes were delayed from taking off from Incheon Airport, and 69 domestic flights to and from Gimpo Airport were canceled or delayed.
At Incheon Airport, 5.4 centimeters of snow was recorded as of 11 a.m., whereupon 89 planes were temporarily stalled from taking off with an average delay time of 80 minutes, during which the deicing, or removing ice and snow from aircraft, took place.
At Gimpo Airport, 10 domestic flights were canceled and 51 domestic and eight international flights were delayed as of 11 a.m. with 4.3 centimeters of snow accumulated in the premises.
Four roads on slanted slopes in the mountainous areas within Seoul were temporarily blocked in the morning hours due to safety concerns.
According to the police, from 9 a.m. on the day, the Inwangsan road between Sajik Park entrance and Changuimun, the Bukaksan road between Bukak Golf Range and Changuimun, Gamsawon road from Gamsawon entrance to Friendship Park Seongbuk and Gaewoonsan road between Korea University’s North Gate and Gaewoon Middle School, were closed.
The roads reopened between 11 a.m. and 12 a.m. as the accumulated snow was shoveled and removed.
The weather agency forecast Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to accumulate two to seven centimeters of snow by nightfall.
By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)
