Typhoon soaks Taiwan

A couple watch a flood discharge at Shihmen Reservoir yesterday despite wind and rain brought on by Typhoon Ranamin. PHOTO: TONY YAO, LIBERTY TIMES

Typhoon Rananim yesterday skirted Taiwan, bringing torrential rains to mountainous areas in the north. Forecasters said considerable rainfall might also occur in the nation's central and southern parts in the next few days.

Yesterday afternoon, the Central Weather Bureau lifted the typhoon warning for residents of Taiwan. However, residents of the outlying Matsu Islands remained under threat from Typhoon Rananim, which is expected to create unstable weather in China's coastal provinces today.

According to the bureau's statistics released at 6pm, monitoring stations in counties of Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taipei measured rainfall exceeding 200mm since Wednesday. Some airports were closed for a few hours yesterday morning due to the stormy weather. Road collapses triggerred by heavy rains were also reported in Taichung and Miaoli counties.

"In the following days, residents in coastal areas need to stay on the alert for seawater flowing backward," George Lu (呂國臣), a meteorologist at the Central Weather Bureau, said.

In eastern Taiwan, a foehn -- a hot, dry wind -- was experienced in Taitung County as temperature readings exceeded 39?C. Tawu township recorded 39.6?C while Taitung City measured 39.3?C.

The bureau issued heavy rain warnings for the nation's central and southern regions, reminding residents of potential landslides, mudflows, flooding and road collapses.

The Council of Agriculture yesterday encouraged residents in nine counties to be prepared for mudflows, and encouraged 3,415 residents living in vulnerable locations to leave.

According to the council's Soil and Water Conservation Bureau, Tahu township in Miaoli County and six other townships are being closely monitored, becuase waterlogged hillsides could trigger mudflows at any time.

In Hoping Township, Taiching County, more than 200 residents of Sungho Village, an area prone to floods, were evacuated yesterday, officials said.

As of 6pm yesterday, the typhoon was centered at 290km east northeast of Matsu, and was heading for China's east coast at speeds of about 17kph.

To ensure the safety of reservoirs, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) yesterday opened the flood gates at the Mingte Reservoir in Miaoli County and the Shihmen Dam in Taoyuan County.

Lee Tieh-min (李鐵民), the head of the WRA's North Water Resources Bureau, said yesterday that the Shihmen Dam was almost full because about 400mm of rain had fallen in nearby mountainous areas.

Yesterday, water was released at a rate of 600m3 every second. The reservoir and Feitsui Reservoir in Taipei County are major sources of water supply in northern Taiwan.

"Due to abundant rainfall brought by Rananim, we estimate that water supplies will remain sufficient in the upcoming months," Lee said.

By time, the Cabinet's Naitonal Disaster Prevention and Protection Center received no reports of deaths or casualties caused by Rananim.