A typhoon packing record strength winds slammed into South Korea killing at least 58 people and forcing about 25,000 to flee from their homes, authorities said today.
At least 27 people were missing and the death toll was expected to rise, officials said.
"We're still getting damage reports and expect more casualties," an official at the National Disaster Prevention Headquarters said.
Typhoon Maemi, with winds of up to 216 kph, a record for South Korea, tore into southern parts of the peninsula on Friday night, carving a swathe of destruction before heading out to sea today. Maemi means "cicada" in Korean.
YTN television said rescue workers were trying to reach 10 people trapped in the basement of a collapsed shopping centre in the southern city of Masan.
The storm brought big cranes crashing down onto roads and docks and ripped ships from their moorings, tossing them against each other. At least 82 vessels sank in huge seas and fishing boats were stacked like driftwood on shore roads.
The worst affected area was South Kyeongsang province where at least 15 people drowned and roads were swept away in mud sides.
Up to 453 mm of rain was dumped across some areas. Billboards were sent flying, trees were uprooted and power lines brought down.
Authorities issued flood warnings for areas along the Nakdong river, which flows through the centre and south of the country, as full dams had to open their flood gates.
About 25,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes, the disaster office said.