S.Korea warns of 'very strong' typhoon, businesses curb operations

South Korea issued warnings on bad weather and raised its typhoon alert level to its highest as typhoon Hinnamnor neared on Monday, with heavy rain and strong wind already lashing southern parts of the country. Responding to the progress of the typhoon, companies in the country said they have either curtailed operations or are contemplating doing so. Travelling northward at a speed of 19 km per hour, Hinnamnor is expected to make landfall 90 km southwest of the port city of Busan early on Tuesday, after reaching waters off Jeju Island around Monday midnight. "Very strong winds and heavy rains are expected across the country through to Tuesday due to the typhoon, while there will be places where very high waves cross breakwaters and coastal roads along with storm and tsunami," the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. While typhoons are classified into four categories – medium, strong, very strong, super strong – Hinnamnor is expected to reach the country as a "very strong" typhoon, according to the KMA. Typhoons under that classification have wind speeds of up to 53 metres per second. Warnings have been issued across the southern cities, including Gwangju, Busan, Daegu and Ulsan, following that in the southern island of Jeju, while the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Sunday upgraded its typhoon alert level to the highest among its four-tier system, the first time in five years. Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines have cancelled most of their Monday flights to Jeju Island, according to their websites, while budget airlines such as Air Seoul and Jin Air have cancelled some of their flights.<br/>