SEOUL — The strongest cyclonic storm this year — Typhoon Hinnamnor — has struck South Korea causing damage to cities on the southern coast.

Fearing landslides and floods, officials evacuated about 3,500 people ahead of the storm, which made landfall in the island city of Geoje.

It then churned at a 54km/hour pace northwards, whipping up surf and driving heavy rains and floods.

No casualties have been reported but a 25-year-old man in Ulsan remains missing, authorities say.

President Yoon Suk-yeol held emergency response meetings on Monday as the country braced for Typhoon Hinnamnor, which was measured to be as intense as the devastating Maemi typhoon in 2003.

Trains were suspended, hundreds of flights were canceled nationwide and businesses and schools shut early.

North Korea also braced for the storm, with leader Kim Jong Un holding a two-day disaster prevention meeting.

Officials said the typhoon left South Korea off the coast of Ulsan on Tuesday morning, but it left a trail of destruction in its wake.

It's expected to travel at a slightly weaker pace towards the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.

But sea surface temperatures are several degrees above average, which could help sustain the storm, NASA said.

Half of schools in South Korea were closed or shifted to online classes Tuesday in the aftermath of Typhoon Hinnamnor, the Yonhap quoted the Education Ministry as said.

The typhoon forced a total of 2,615 elementary and secondary schools nationwide, or 13.2 percent, to close on the day, while classes were conducted online at 7,348 schools, or 37 percent, the ministry said.

It noted 1,317 schools, or 6.6 percent, shortened school hours, while class proceeded normally at only 8,566 schools, or 43.2 percent.

By region, all schools in Busan and the adjacent South Gyeongsang Province that were hit hardest by the typhoon, switched to online classes.

In the nearby city of Ulsan, 383 schools, or 89.9 percent, were closed and online classes were conducted at 43 schools, the ministry said. In Seoul, all kindergartens and elementary schools were closed for the day. — Agencies