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Flights grounded, power cut as record November snowfall strikes Seoul

South Korea's capital was blanketed on Wednesday by the heaviest snowfall in Seoul throughout November on record, with bad weather condition snarling traffic, knocking out power and grounding numerous flights as authorities braced for more snow in coming days.

A minimum of two people were reported killed in traffic mishaps on highways east of the capital, while falling debris from structures and construction websites due to strong winds injured some pedestrians in Seoul, media reports said.

Cooler air relocating from the northwest turned rain into snow overnight, leaving 18 cm (7.1 inches) on the ground by 3 p.m., marking the most significant fall considering that records began being kept in 1907, the weather condition company stated.

The Interior Ministry upgraded its catastrophe reaction stating up to 5 cm an hour of snow was forecast through Thursday early morning, alerting the wet snow had a high concentration of wetness, adding to the threat of damage to facilities and property.

More than 200 flights were cancelled or postponed, the majority of them domestic as airports across the country experienced serious weather, which likewise included strong wind, and at least 70 ferries serving islands were suspended.

Power was cut for countless families in a number of locations of Seoul and the central region as electricity lines were damaged by falling trees and snow-related causes, news reports stated.

(source: Reuters)