At least 20 people are presumed dead or missing after Nari pounded southern areas Sunday accompanied by gusts of up to 150 km an hour.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea's highest mountain, Halla, saw 556 millimeters of rain on Sunday alone, the highest daily rainfall since Korea began keeping records in 1927.

The storm flooded more than 200 households on the island, swept away hundreds of cars, wiped out roads and wrecked ships at anchor.

With all ferries and flights to and from the island suspended Sunday some 20,000 travelers on Jeju were socked in overnight. Limited air traffic only resumed before noon Monday at Jeju International Airport.

Some two-thirds of Jeju households experienced power outages and the mainland port of Yeosu on the south coast also suffered from power failures.

Though not as severely affected, other cities along southern and coastal regions also saw heavy rain and strong winds.

Nari's exit doesn't spell the end to the havoc as authorities are warning of flooding in the southeastern provinces of Gyeongsang with water levels in the lower Nakdong River feared to reach sea level.

Yet another lashing is expected as tropical storm Wipha moves north from Japan's Okinawa. The storm measuring at 975 millibars at its center is churning northwest at 112 km per hour toward China.

Strong winds and rain are expected again in Korea starting Wednesday as the storm passes by Taiwan and hits Shanghai on Thursday.

Arirang News