Typhoon Lingling approaches South Korea

Seoul’s landmark Namsan Tower is covered by clouds on Sept. 5, 2019 as Typhoon Lingling moves northward to South Korea. (Yonhap)

Seoul: A powerful typhoon is quickly moving upward to South Korea, with strong winds and heavy rain expected to pound the country soon, the weather agency said Friday.

Typhoon Lingling, this year’s 13th typhoon, passed seas northwest of Okinawa, Japan, at a speed of 20-30 kph at 7 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Association.

Its central pressure was 940 hectopascals, and the maximum wind speed near its center was 47 meters per second, or 169 kph. Strong gusts like this can topple cars and ships, and uproot trees.

YONHAP