Typhoon Haishen lashes South Korea

Typhoon Haishen lashed South Korea on Monday after hitting southern Japan on Sunday, with record winds and heavy rains that left tens of thousands without power and several injured in both countries.

The Korea Meteorological Administration warned of "very heavy rain and very strong winds'' as the typhoon, with maximum winds of 126 kilometers (78 miles) per hour, touched down in the southeastern port city of Ulsan.

Read more: Typhoon Haishen: Millions told to evacuate as storm hits Japan 

The weather agency said the typhoon was weakening and will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm within 24 hours.

Cars navigated flooded roads in Ulsan and other coastal cities such as Busan, Sokcho and Gangneung, while emergency workers cleaned up toppled trees and damaged traffic signs and buildings.

Hundreds of flights to the southern island province of Jeju and across the mainland were canceled, while several lines of transportation including bridges and railroad sections were shut down.

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The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said a person in Busan was lightly injured after a car flipped in strong winds, but it didn't immediately provide further reports of injuries.

More than 1,600 residents in the southern mainland regions were evacuated, and over 17,000 households lost electricity in the southern mainland areas and Jeju. 

Haishen is the third typhoon to hit South Korea in a two-week period — the country has not previously been hit by three typhoons in a single year, according to records dating back to 1945.

Read more: North Korea vows 'severe' punishments in wake of typhoon

'Sea god' rips through Pacific

More than 7 million people were advised to evacuate in Japan on Sunday before the typhoon battered Japan's southern mainland and islands.

Traffic was still at a standstill in several places, while trains were suspended and flights canceled.

At least 20 people were injured, according to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Additionally, at least 180,000 homes were still without power. Four people were missing in Miyazaki, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Haishen, which means "sea god" in Chinese, was expected to reach North Korea's northeastern region later in the day.

Leader Kim Jong Un appeared in state media over the weekend, where he was seen inspecting the damage. He ordered 12,000 ruling party members in Pyongyang to help with recovery, and the official KCNA news agency reported that around 300,000 had responded to his call.

North Korea is still reeling from the effects of Typhoon Maysak last week. The North said Maysak destroyed more than 1,000 houses, while the South reported at least one death as well as damaged roads and buildings.

A cargo ship carrying 5,800 cows sank off Japan's coast in the East China Sea as Maysak passed through, and two of its 43 crew members were rescued. The coast guard has since suspended its search for the missing crew.

lc/rc (AP, AFP)