In the examples below what does 中 stand for and how is it pronounced?

> 15日は海からの強い風が吹きつける **中** 、およそ２０人の男たちが、運河に架かる橋の欄干から次々と水の中に飛び込みました。

and

> オホーツク海の流氷が南下する **中** 、北海道紋別市の流氷観光船「ガリンコ号」が今シーズン初めて流氷の中を航行し、観光客が雄大な景色を楽しみました。

Is 中 attached to the verb (I thought it can be attached like this only to
nouns), or is it separate from it (if so why isn't there の between them) or is
something else the case here?
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2017-02-02T14:17:57.530
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2020-12-17T19:13:43.603
2017-02-02T15:58:02.823
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question
meaning pronunciation
What is 中 after a verb?
The pronunciation is "naka（なか）," "中{なか}."

"中{なか}" = during, while or "・・・in blowing strong wind", "・・・in advancing
southwards".

> 強い風が吹きつける中  
>  = 「強い風が吹きつける」＋「中=during or while」  
>  = 強い風が吹きつける最中
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2017-02-03T02:06:04.033
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2020-12-16T16:24:47.987
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answer
As mentioned already, 中 also means "during or while" and pronounciation is
"naka".

However, 中 sometimes includes Contradictory conjunction nuance. So, the first
exapmle means that 20 mens dived to sea **though** or **despite of** strong
wind.

～ている(時に) doesn't have such a nuance. It just means while or during.

The second example's 中 is almost same as "while" (not including contradictory
conjuction nuance)
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2020-12-17T19:13:43.603
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answer