Flights grounded, 200 evacuated in South Korea as Typhoon Hinnamnor nears

Hundreds of flights were grounded and more than 200 people evacuated in South Korea on Monday as Typhoon Hinnamnor approached the country's southern region with heavy rains and winds of up to 290 kilometres per hour, the strongest storm in decades.

South Korea's weather agency said the country will start to feel the full force of Hinnamnor, the strongest global storm this year, by early on Tuesday when it is forecast to graze the southern resort island of Jeju before making landfall near the mainland city of Busan.

Government officials raised concern about potentially huge damage from flooding, landslides and tidal waves.

President Yoon Suk Yeol during an emergency response meeting on Monday urged maximum effort to prevent casualties. Prime Minister Han Duk-soo called for proactive efforts to evacuate residents in areas vulnerable to flooding.

As of Monday afternoon, Hinnamnor was over the open sea 290 kilometres southwest of Jeju.

It has dumped 46 centimetres (18 inches) of rain in the central part of Jeju since Sunday, where winds were blowing at a maximum speed of 124 kph (77 mph) and were picking up.

South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety said there were no immediate reports of casualties. At least 11 homes and buildings were flooded in Jeju while more than 200 people were forced to evacuate in Busan and nearby cities because of safety concerns.

More than 360 domestic flights and 66 ferry services were grounded nationwide as of Monday afternoon while thousands of fishing boats returned to port. All schools in Busan and nearby southern regions are scheduled to be closed and shift to online classes on Tuesday, officials said.

Cities in eastern China suspended ferry services and classes and more than 100 flights were cancelled in Japan on Sunday as Hinnamnor passed through the region.