Five dead as South Korea battles record snowfall | World News

Five people have reportedly died in a cold snap engulfing South Korea, with its capital Seoul facing its third-heaviest snowfall on record.

About 142 flights from Seoul have been cancelled as it faces its second day of freezing temperatures, and 76 ferry routes suspended, authorities said.

Residents have been told to refrain from driving, while about 1,285 schools have shut in Gyeonggi, South Korea’s most populous province adjoining Seoul.

Images showed traffic being brought to a standstill due to the icy road conditions and people using umbrellas to shield themselves from the heavy snowfall against a backdrop of snow-covered trees and roads.

On Wednesday, the 9.4m-strong city recorded the heaviest amount of November snowfall since records began a century ago – more than 40cm (16 inches) of snow.

Yonhap news agency reported at least five snowfall-related deaths in the province, including four people who were killed when structures collapsed under the weight of snow.

Another person died in a traffic accident when a bus skidded on an icy road.

Police said 11 people were injured last night in a 53-vehicle pile-up on a highway in the central city of Wonju in Gangwon province.

Incheon airport in Seoul was the worst affected by the extreme weather as passengers faced delays of about two hours on average.

“It’s been snowing a lot today,” said 73-year-old Lee Sook-ja as she tucked into some soup at Namdaemun market, one of the biggest in Seoul.

“It’s freezing and chilly, but having a cup of hot fish cake soup really helps warm me up.”

As of today, however, conditions seemed to be easing as weather officials have now lifted heavy snow warnings in Seoul’s metropolitan area.