Typhoon Kaemi was expected to make landfall in eastern Taiwan early this morning, pounding the east coast, Penghu and Kinmen counties and regions south of Hsinchu County with heavy winds and rains.
As of 9:15pm yesterday, the center of the fifth typhoon of the year was located 90km southeast of Taitung County. It was moving northwest at 16kph, with the radius of the storm reaching 200km, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
Heavy rains are likely in Taitung and Hualien counties and the mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan, the CWB said.
Rain and winds in the western part of the country are not expected to turn stronger until this morning, as the region is shielded by the central mountains.
CWB spokesman Lu Kuo-cheng (
The bureau alerted people to the danger of landslides, falling rocks, and swelling streams and rivers in the mountains caused by torrential rain.
A tour bus was hit by a falling rock in Taroko National Park yesterday, injuring five.
Tourists were evacuated yesterday from Green Island and Orchid Island.
Residents in Taitung were dismissed from work and classes as of 4pm yesterday, and Orchid Islanders also left work and classes yesterday afternoon.
But Keelung residents must attend school or work today, the Keelung City Government announced yesterday.
The weather bureau also warned people in low-lying areas of possible flooding caused by riptides.
Anyone who swims in the sea or gets too close to the waves during the typhoon will be fined up to NT$250,000 according to the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Law (
Domestic flights to and from Hualien and Taitung were canceled as of 3pm yesterday.
Far Eastern Air Transport also canceled its flights after 6pm yesterday between Taipei and Tainan, and between Taipei and Kaohsiung, while Mandarin Airlines canceled all flights after 3pm. Today's domestic flights on Uni Air have also been canceled.
Trains to Alishan have been canceled until the typhoon has passed, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA).
The Taiwan Railway Administration announced last night that express trains operating on the North Link, South Link and the Hualian-Taitung line would be canceled today.
Ships commuting between Penghu and Chiayi counties have been canceled for three days, starting yesterday.
Tourist ferries in Kaohsiung City have been canceled until the city lifts its typhoon alert.
Vegetable supplies are normal, with the average price of each transaction being NT$37.7, the COA said in its press release yesterday.
Parking along yellow and red lines in Taipei City will not be allowed during this storm, the city's Department of Transportation announced yesterday.
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