Bilis expected to hit today, bringing heavy rainfall

Taipei firefighters prepare flotation devices as Tropical Storm Bilis crept toward Taiwan yesterday. PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued a land warning yesterday for Tropical Storm Bilis, which is now increasing speed and will hit Taiwan earlier than originally expected.

At 10pm, Bilis was located 50km southwest of Hualien. It was moving northwest at a speed of 18kph, with a radius of 300km.

The bureau estimated that the storm center will make landfall on the east coast by 8pm today.

The bureau forecast that the storm would have the greatest effect on Taiwan today and tomorrow.

However, heavy rainfall carried along by air currents from the southwest will continue to affect the nation. Bureau spokesman Wu De-rong (吳德榮) said yesterday that the tropical storm is unlikely to increase in intensity.

Bilis' winds may not be that strong, but the heavy rains it brings could cause flooding in southern Taiwan, Wu said.

The rainfall in mountainous areas in the southwestern region of Taiwan may exceed 1,000mm, the bureau added.

The Taitung and Hualien county governments announced a day off today for government offices and for schools. Schools in Ilan, Taoyuan and Nantou counties will also be closed.

Except for some flights in the morning, the majority of domestic flights will be canceled today, including those of Far Eastern Air Transport Corp, Mandarin Airlines, Uni Air and TransAsia Airways.

International flights, however, will continue as usual. Passengers are advised to contact their airline before departing for the airport.

Ferries operating between Kinmen and Xiamen will also be canceled. The train to Alishan will also halt services today until weather conditions improve.

Meanwhile, the average retail price for vegetables was reported to be higher yesterday because of worries about the storm, from NT$26.8 per kilogram Wednesday to NT$29.7 yesterday.

The wholesale price of benchmark green onions has reached NT$150 per kilogram. The price of cucumbers has also risen to NT$70 per kilogram, twice as much as last week.

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) urged the public to take proper precautions against possible damage from the approaching storm.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said it had organized a rapid-response center to deal with any potential disasters caused by Bilis.

The MND has also ordered local defense commands to establish temporary rescue teams.

The ministry said the military's local bases have already finished necessary preparation work.

Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), currently in Japan, will return to Taipei tomorrow, one day earlier than scheduled, to monitor the city's disaster prevention and rescue systems.

Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang and Jewel Huang