TYPHOON RUSA SUSPENDS AIR, SEA, ROAD ROUTES ON KOREAN PENINSULA.

SEOUL, Sept 2 Asia Pulse - Typhoon Rusa penetrated the center of the Korean Peninsula late Saturday to cause severe property damages and human losses and suspend air and sea routes and roads and railways across the Korean Peninsula.

Rusa, the fifth typhoon spawned in the western Pacific this summer, is expected to reach Gangwon Province early Sunday before moving northeast to the East Sea Sunday afternoon, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Saturday.

Rusa, moving northeastward at the speed of 30 kilometers per hour, arrived in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, as of 9 p.m., just six hours after it approached the seas off the Goheung Peninsula 3 p.m., the KMA said.

"Typhoon Rusa is expected to bring torrential rains in the southern part of the country and Gangwon Province throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning," the weather service said, warning against possible damage from strong winds, heavy rains and tidal waves.

The typhoon with the speed of 36 meters per second in its center brought over 700 mms of rain in the eastern coastal city of Gangneung Saturday alone, virtually paralyzing the city.

About 2,000 houses were put under water and over 5,000 people were left homeless in Gangneung.

Daegwallyong received 434 mms of rain, the second most, followed by 402 mms of rain in Goheung, 193 mms in Donghae City and 124 mms in Jeju City.