South Korea faced a second day of heavy snowfall on Thursday, disrupting travel and claiming at least five lives.

Snowfall in Seoul reached unprecedented levels for November, with over 40 cm (16 in) recorded by Thursday morning, making it the third-heaviest snowfall in the capital since records began in 1907.

Although heavy snow warnings were lifted later in the morning, the impact was significant.

At Seoul’s Incheon Airport, over 140 flights were canceled, with others experiencing average delays of two hours. Ferry services were suspended on 76 routes, and train schedules were disrupted.

Schools in Gyeonggi Province, near Seoul, were allowed to close if necessary. The severe weather led to fatal accidents, including a golf range net and a car park tent collapsing under the weight of snow, killing two people.

Traffic accidents, including a 53-car pileup in Gangwon Province, caused at least two more fatalities and several injuries.

The unusually heavy snowfall has been linked to warm seawater temperatures near the Korean peninsula meeting cold air currents. North Korea also reported significant snowfall, with over 10 cm (4 in) falling in some areas earlier in the week.

While conditions began to ease by Thursday, the storm left widespread disruption in its wake.

#MaltaDaily