SEOUL: South Korea mobilised thousands of government workers and soldiers Monday to clear a record snowfall that hit the country's northeastern province of Gangwon.Weathermen said up to 100 centimetres 39 inches of snow fell in some mountain areas in the northeastern port of Samcheok Friday and Saturday, the heaviest since records began in 1911.
Gangneung city, near the potential winter Olympic venue of Pyeongchang, received 77.7 centimetres on Friday alone.An International Olympic Committee inspection team was to arrive Monday in Pyeongchang to assess its suitability for the 2018 event.
Snow stopped falling Sunday but the region is forecast to receive up to 50 centimetres late Monday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.The defence ministry said 9,800 soldiers were deployed Monday for snow-clearing, as military helicopters carried food to isolated villages.
The snowstorm left hundreds of cars stranded and damaged farmland.About 4.8 billion won $4.3 million worth of property damage was reported, Gangwon provincial authorities said, adding the figure was expected to rise sharply.
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