He haikui typhoon made landfall this Sunday in eastern Taiwan, with torrential rains and strong winds that left thousands of homes without electricityin the first major storm to hit the island directly in four years.
Authorities evacuated about 7,000 people as a precaution, hundreds of flights were canceled and shops were ordered to close.
The authorities indicated that more than 40 people were injured by the stormincluding at least two in the county of hualienmountainous, where three vehicles were affected by the fall of a tree.
“The typhoon made landfall in Taitung around 3:40 p.m. (0740 GMT), a bit earlier than expected as it is moving faster than projected,” he told AFP. Yeh Chih-chun of the Central Meteorological Bureau.
He typhoon could pose “a considerable threat to most regions of taiwanwith winds, rains and waves”, warned before the arrival of the storm the deputy director of meteorological services, Fong Chin-tzu.
Through which region is Typhoon Haikui advancing?
Haikui advances through Taitungwhich is a mountainous area of the east and projected to cross the island to the west and then continue through the strait of taiwan toward mainland china On Monday in the morning.
Residents hunkered down in their homes, trying to stay away from windows and strong gusts of wind outside. they uprooted trees and knocked over water tanks.
“I think that this time he is serious,” he estimated. Chang Jhi-ming, a 58-year-old mechanic. “It’s just beginning, the wind has just picked up and you can already see trees falling.”
Some watched in amazement at the large waves that formed on the shoreline before they haikui touched down
“It’s been a while since any typhoon came here, only today can you see waves like this. Something rare to see!” he said. Chen Hsin-kuang, a 62-year-old farmer.
More than 119,000 homes were left without electricity this Sunday, as the typhoon moved south and east. By night, more than half had their power restored.
Around 9:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. GMT), haikui It had weakened to “moderate intensity” and was near the city of Kaohsiung, in southwestern Taiwan, with wind gusts of about 126 km/h, reported the Central Meteorological Office in a statement.
“Heavy rains are expected in the mountains of Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung at night,” the office said.
In Taitungthe winds and torrential rains submerged the landscape in a kind of white veil, without any visibility.
“I had almost forgotten what it was like to be in a typhoon. How violent is this wind!” exclaimed Huang Jun-tongowner of a restaurant, who made sure that his establishment was well closed.
“And that everything was so calm yesterday, we didn’t have the impression that a typhoon“, he added.
Haikui “will be the first typhoon in four years to make landfall in Taiwan”warned on Sunday the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
“I remind people to prepare for the typhoon and ensure their safety, avoiding going out or doing dangerous activities”he added.
The armed forces mobilized soldiers and equipmentsuch as amphibious vehicles and inflatable boats, in those parts where it is expected that haikui have more impact.
The last big storm to hit taiwan was the Typhoon Bailu, in 2019, which left one dead.
Source: Ambito
