Typhoon Haikui made landfall in eastern Taiwan, marking the first major storm to directly hit the island in four years. The typhoon unleashed torrential rain and powerful winds, causing widespread disruptions and plunging thousands of households into darkness.
Typhoon Haikui Strikes Eastern Taiwan, Bringing Torrential Rain and Strong Winds
Impacts of Typhoon Haikui:
- Evacuations and Flight Cancellations: Nearly 4,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, and hundreds of flights were canceled in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.
- Landfall: The Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan confirmed that Typhoon Haikui made landfall in coastal Taitung, a mountainous county in eastern Taiwan.
- Strong Winds: Residents took precautions, staying indoors and away from windows as strong gusts of wind uprooted trees and sent water tanks flying through the air.
- Power Outages: Over 21,000 households across the island experienced power outages. While most had power restored by mid-afternoon, around 9,000 were still without electricity when the typhoon struck.
- Minor Injuries: Authorities reported two minor injuries in Hualien County due to a fallen tree hitting a car. Flash flood warnings were issued for mountainous regions.
- Landslide Concerns: Typhoon Haikui’s path across the Central Mountain Range raised concerns about potential landslides in surrounding counties, according to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Typhoon’s Intensity:
- Typhoon Haikui gained speed and was packing sustained winds of approximately 154 kilometers (95 miles) per hour.
Future Movement:
- The weather bureau indicated that the typhoon would move into the Taiwan Strait by Monday evening.
Preparations and Impact:
- Residents in affected areas made preparations for the typhoon, with businesses closing and people advised to stay indoors and avoid dangerous activities.
- The military mobilized soldiers and equipment, including amphibious vehicles and inflatable rubber boats, to assist in areas expected to be heavily impacted by the typhoon.
- Typhoon Haikui is expected to be less severe than Typhoon Saola, which bypassed Taiwan and weakened into a tropical storm.
Local Reactions:
- A restaurant owner in Hualien remarked on the sudden change in weather, saying, “Yesterday, it was so calm that we did not feel like a typhoon was coming. Today, we feel it.”
Conclusion:
Typhoon Haikui’s arrival brought heavy rains, strong winds, and power outages to eastern Taiwan, prompting evacuations and precautionary measures. The island remains vigilant as the typhoon progresses, with concerns about its impact on vulnerable areas and the potential for landslides.