Typhoon Meari leaves 13 dead or missing in S.Korea

Typhoon Meari brought heavy downpours and strong winds across South Korea over the weekend, leaving at least nine people dead and three missing, the Seoul-based Arirang TV reported Monday. Meari has passed by South Korea's northwestern island and is expected to reach the North Korean border city of Sinuiju, according to separate report by public broadcaster KBS. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts the typhoon to weaken into an extratropical cyclone once it reaches Sinuiju later on Monday, and rainclouds left by the typhoon will hang over South Korea on Monday, bringing five to 20 millimeters of more precipitation in the central region. Authorities urged people to take precautions before as a heavy downpour is forecast nationwide Wednesday. The typhoon affected South Korea with strong winds and heavy downpours, causing flash floods as well as knocking down power lines and store signs. The effects from the typhoon caused cancellations of about 60 domestic flights on Sunday. Before making its way to the Korean peninsula, Meari caused massive damage in parts of the Philippines, with floods that caused some 90, 000 people to evacuate the affected area.