YILAN (Taiwan): Numerous flights were cancelled and businesses were closed as officials in Taiwan prepared Sunday for Typhoon Haikui, the first tropical storm to directly impact the island in four years. Thousands of people were evacuated ahead of the storm.
By Sunday morning, Haikui had already brought heavy rainfall. By 5:00 pm (0900 GMT), Taitung, a mountainous county in less-populated eastern Taiwan, is where Haikui is predicted to make landfall.
Just before 9:00 am, the storm was around 180 kilometres (110 miles) east of Taiwan, according to a press conference held by Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.
According to deputy director Fong Chin-tzu, “it is expected to pose a significant threat to most areas in Taiwan with winds, rains, and waves.” He advised the people to be “on guard.”
He said that the storm would proceed west to the Taiwan Strait by Monday, noting that it had gained considerable power since yesterday.
Schools and businesses on the island’s southern and eastern regions were closed on Sunday due to the typhoon, which had sustained winds of roughly 140 km/h.
More than 200 flights within the country were cancelled.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said, “I remind the people to make preparations for the typhoon and watch out for your safety, avoid going out or any dangerous activities.”
Authorities reported evacuating more than 2,800 individuals from seven cities, the most of whom came from Taitung’s neighbouring mountainous county of Hualien.
While a fishing port in the northeastern coastal Yilan county witnessed towering waves pound against the beach, the streets of Hualien were desolate on Sunday morning and were being pummelling by relentless torrential rain.
Around the regions of Taiwan where Haikui is anticipated to have the most impact, the military had deployed personnel and equipment, including amphibious vehicles and inflatable rubber boats.
Typhoon Bailu, which made landfall on Taiwan in 2019, was the most recent significant storm to do so.
Saola, which missed Taiwan but raised the warning level in nearby Hong Kong and southern China before weakening into a tropical storm by Saturday, is likely to be less severe than Haikui.
