Haitang, the worst typhoon to approach Taiwan in five years, began affecting the nation's weather yesterday afternoon, with strong winds and heavy rain reported across the country.
More rain and high winds are expected today and tomorrow before the storm heads toward southern China.
Officials at the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) yesterday issued nationwide heavy rain warnings and urged people to avoid mountainous areas, rivers and the seaside for the next two days.
PHOTO: CHEN TSE-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Yesterday afternoon, the eastern counties of Hualien, Ilan and Taitung reported the strongest wind and heaviest rain. But from Taipei to Hengchuen Peninsula in the south, many people had trouble standing upright outdoors amid strong gusts.
With winds of up to 234kph, Haitang was expected to pound the east coast between Ilan and Hualien Counties especially hard.
Forecasters said yesterday that Haitang was moving at a speed of 17kph and that it would slow down further after making landfall.
By Tuesday, it may be moving as slowly as 6kph as it leaves Taiwan headed for southern China.
"Due to Haitang's slow movement, devastating and heavy rains are expected to be seen in mountain areas around the whole island," said George Lu (
The bureau predicts that Haitang might bring cumulative rainfall exceeding 1,300mm in mountains in northern, central, and southern parts of Taiwan.
Forecasters said that for residents in central Taiwan, who have been suffering from devastating mudflows and landslides for years, that amount of rainfall could be catastrophic.
Since Haitang's route is similar to 1996's devastating Typhoon Herb, which claimed 51 lives, governments at all levels have gone to high alert and have set up disaster relief centers.
Yesterday morning, the Council of Agriculture (COA) issued mudflow and landslide warnings, listing 1,420 rivers in danger of flooding. The council's warnings affect about 26,000 residents in 159 townships in 19 counties. Council officials said that a Web site showing the danger of floods and mudflows, fema.swcb.gov.tw, offers emergency information about evacuations.
In Taipei, all water gates were closed yesterday afternoon as comprehensive flood prevention measures were carried out.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
As of press time last night, several northern and eastern counties had announced that schools will be closed today and that employees are not obligated to come to work.
Taipei City, Taipei County, Ilan County, Hsinchu County, Keelung and Hualien were among those who had announced that schools and workplaces will be closed today.
Water Resources Agency Director-General Chen Shen-hsien (
"The completion of the Yuanshanzih flood diversion tunnel in Keelung makes it possible to function automatically [rather than manually]," Chen said.
The Taiwan Water Supply Corporation yesterday urged residents to store tap water in advance because heavy rains will increase the turbidity of river water.
In the past, water restrictions were carried out after flooding in northern Taiwan.
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
REBUFFED: In response to Chinese criticism over recent arms sales, Washington urged Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue instead of threats and intimidation Washington’s long-term commitment to Taiwan would not change, the US Department of State said yesterday, urging Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan and engage in meaningful bilateral dialogues. The remarks came in response to a backlash from Beijing about Washington’s latest approval of arms sales to Taiwan. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Wednesday that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US has asked to purchase an arms package, including Tactical Mission Network Software; AH-1W helicopter spare and repair parts; M109A7 self-propelled howitzers; HIMARS long range precision strike systems; tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles; Javelin
RSS