Cold Wave Alert

[Anchor Lead]

The entire Korean Peninsula is in the grips of a sudden cold snap. A cold wave warning has been issued for the central region Tuesday, the first of this coming winter season. Here’s a look at the cityscape under the freeze.

[Pkg]

On Tuesday morning, the mercury plunged to minus 12 degrees Celsius in capital Seoul. Citizens are covered in hats, raising their coat collars. Cold wave alerts have been issued for the capital city. Cold wave warnings are in place in northern Gyeonggi-do and Chuncheong-do Provinces and western Gangwon-do Province. Temperatures have dipped to minus 10 to 15 degrees in these areas. Seoul City has also decided to raise its alert level regarding the freezing of water meters. Below-zero temperatures continue into the day. Tourists from Southeast Asia are warmly dressed. These ladies dressed in the Korean traditional costume 'hanbok' try to take pictures but their hands are numb. They are not used to the cold.

[Soundbite] (Tourist from Taiwan) : "It's very cold. My fingers hurt."

Secluded roads are still icy. People passing by take careful steps.

[Soundbite] (Elementary School Student) : "I think it's cold. (How cold?) Minus 7.2 degrees."

Fewer people are seen out on the streets.

[Soundbite] Kim Hyeon-suk (Vendor) : "Naturally fewer customers come if it gets cold. What can we do. Business is tough."

In some areas, snow has frozen onto roads, causing traffic accidents. Following the sudden temperature plunge, local authorities including those in Seoul have activated 24-hour situation rooms to protect citizens and oversee facilities especially vulnerable to the freezing weather.