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CWB raises land warning as typhoon threatens south

A 20m wave hits a bank at Fugang Harbor in Taitung City yesterday as Typhoon Hagupit approached the south coast of the country. PHOTO: CNA

The Central Weather Bureau yesterday issued a land alert as Typhoon Hagupit threatened southern Taiwan.

Residents in Taitung, Hengchun (恆春), Green Island, Lanyu (蘭嶼) and Pingtung should brace for heavy rainfall, the bureau said, adding that vessels operating in the Bashi Channel, the southern end of the Taiwan Strait and the Dongsha islands (東沙群島) should also be on alert.

As of 9:15pm, Hengchun was already covered by the storm’s perimeter. The center of the storm was 270km south of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻). The radius of the storm reached 280km and was moving west at a speed of 26kph.

Because of the typhoon, Taitung County canceled classes and work for last night.

Bureau forecaster Hsieh Ming-chang (謝明昌) said Hagupit was moving fast and the bureau could lift both land and sea warnings by this afternoon.

Hsieh warned though that even after the land alert is lifted, residents in the southwest coastal area still needed to look out for stormy weather brought by the strong southwest wind.

Local governments in the eastern and southern counties, including Taitung, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Chiayi, had activated emergency operations centers in light of the approaching storm.

Ferry services between Kaohsiung and the Penghu islands — about 41km off the southwest coast of Taiwan — have also been suspended for two days, yesterday and today, because of the typhoon.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Highways said yesterday it would enhance inspections of 16 high-risk bridges nationwide.

All 16 bridges are on the top of a list of 40 bridges that need to be repaired immediately.

The DGH will dispatch personnel to monitor the situation, and they will determine on the spot whether any of the bridges should be closed.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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