34 China fishermen missing in S. Korea typhoon: report

More than 30 Chinese fishermen were missing today after two boats sank when a strong typhoon hit South Korea, a report said.

A total of 34 crew members were aboard the boats which went down in gale-force winds and high waves off the southern island of Jeju, Yonhap news agency quoted coastguard officials as saying.

The state weather agency issued a typhoon warning early today for Seoul, the capital of about 10 million people, as the storm named Bolaven continued moving northwards.

The typhoon brough heavy rain and strong winds to southern and western areas of the country, cutting power and bringing down street lights and church spires.

Schools in Jeju were closed or reduced classes yesterday and many schools in other provinces were to be closed today, Yonhap reported.

The US and South Korean military called a temporary halt to a large-scale joint military exercise that began last week, the news agency said.