Typhoon Bolaven Lashes Korean Peninsula

Posted August 28th, 2012 at 6:20 am (UTC-5)
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A powerful typhoon is bringing strong winds and heavy rain to North and South Korea, leaving at least eight people dead and thousands without power.

Typhoon Bolaven churned up rough seas as it slid up the coast of South Korea Tuesday before making landfall in already flood-ravaged North Korea.

Five fisherman died after their Chinese vessels slammed into rocks off South Korea's southern island of Jeju. South Korea's coast guard carried out a dramatic rescue to pull at least 11 other fisherman from the Chinese ships to safety. Six others were able to swim ashore, but 12 more remained missing.

The storm knocked over street lights, ripped away signs and toppled a church spire as it pounded portions of southern and western South Korea, where three people were killed.

Forecasters expect another storm, Typhoon Tembin, to affect the Korean peninsula later this week after passing by Taiwan for the second time in three days.