The Central Weather Bureau advised the public yesterday to prepare for heavy rain brought by Tropical Storm Linfa, which was approaching the Taiwan Strait.
The outer rim of the storm was expected to bring heavy rain or extremely heavy rain to southern and southeastern parts of Taiwan, the bureau said, adding that other areas could expect downpours in the afternoon.
According to the bureau’s definition, heavy rain refers to 24-hour accumulated rainfall exceeding 50mm, while extremely heavy rain means 24-hour accumulated rainfall exceeding 130mm.
“As the typhoon continues to move north-northeast, it constitutes a threat to the Taiwan Strait,” the bureau said on its Web site.
At 8:20pm yesterday, Linfa was centered 310km west-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, packing maximum sustained winds of 126kph and moving north-northeast at 10kph toward the Taiwan Strait, bureau data showed.
The storm was expected to be 160km west-southwest of the Penghu Islands off southwestern Taiwan at 5pm today.
The bureau urged vessels in the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel and waters surrounding the Pratas Islands to take precautions against severe weather.
In Hualien County, police stationed at Taroko National Park began evacuating hikers from mountains in the park despite clear skies and no signs of Linfa’s approach. Police also rejected many applications for permits to enter restricted mountain areas out of safety concerns.
Meanwhile, Vice Premier Paul Chiu (邱正雄) yesterday issued a directive that southern Taiwan, as well as the outlying islands of Kinmen and Penghu, be on full alert over possible flooding after the bureau’s reports of possible heavy rain in southern and southeastern parts of the country.
He also ordered the Government Information Office to warn the public to refrain from visiting beaches and avoid outdoor activities during the storm.
The Council of Agriculture yesterday said vegetable supplies were sufficient and normal. It urged farmers to prepare for the storm and advised them to get their ripe crops harvested as quickly as possible.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY REUTERS
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