Busan, Korea, Was Struck By A Typhoon Tuesday

On Tuesday afternoon, a typhoon struck the South Korean city of Busan, and the scary photos and videos of the storm's landfall make you wonder if what you're watching isn't a tsunami or some other destructive event. Typhoon Chaba was set to pound the Korean peninsula well into Wednesday with waves up to eight meters, striking along the south and southeastern coasts of the country, the English-language Korea Times reported, citing data from the Korean Meteorological Administration.

In Busan, where the dramatic scene resulted in another prayer-themed Twitter hashtag #prayforbusan, a man was killed when a construction crane fell. Another woman, aged 90, was killed when she "was pushed off from her house on the second floor by strong winds," The Korea Herald reported. Reuters put the death toll at five, based on local media, although the official count is still three. Given the scene shown on social media, such deaths are not a surprise.

Many of the videos were taken from high rises, and they capture the waves pounding the coast. Other shots show cars completely submerged by the storm surge. None point to anything other than the hugely damaging force of Mother Nature. The city is home to the country's largest port, and Reuters reported that it remained closed for a second day as the typhoon moved east toward Japan, where it will likely hit as a tropical storm.

The View From High Rises

Eight-Meter Waves

Extreme Flooding From The Storm Surge

There were foreign journalists in the city for a film festival that was supposed to begin the day after the storm hit. The Busan International Film Festival draws people from around the world, and the typhoon stopped it in its tracks. Variety reported that a temporary structure made of shipping containers to be used for the festival was damaged by the storm, and would take several days to repair. Many of the festivals events were moved from the beach to a convention center further inland.

Flights to and from Busan were grounded, which also put a wrench in plans. Some 80 flights at the nearest airport, Gimhae, were cancelled. Variety's own reporter was forced to take the train from Seoul instead, which also saw interruptions in service, according to Reuters. If these images and videos are any indication, now is not the time to visit Busan unless it's absolutely necessary.