The eye of Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taitung County's Chenggong Township (成功) at 1:40pm, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as strong winds and heavy rains from the typhoon caused power outages, flooding and mudslides across the country, with 27 injuries and two tourists missing.
The typhoon — the first in Taiwan's history to make landfall after mid-October — was moving in a north-northwesterly direction at 21kph when it hit land, CWA data showed.
The fast-moving storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 184kph, with gusts of up to 227kph, CWA data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Central Weather Administration
The CWA said it had issued heavy to extremely torrential rain warnings covering northern, eastern and southern Taiwan, with the heaviest rainfall totals expected in mountainous areas of Yilan and Hualien counties.
All of Taiwan was also under a strong wind alert, with wind gusts of level 14 or above on the Beaufort Scale (149kph to 165kph) expected in Taitung, Hualien and Penghu counties, the CWA said.
As of 7am today, the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC) reported 27 injuries resulting from the typhoon, but no deaths.
However, the center said it had not yet established contact with two Czech Republic tourists who it confirmed had entered Taroko National Park.
No other people have been reported missing.
The CEOC added that 27 visitors at Taichung's Wuling Farm have been asked to stay put, as descending the mountain during the typhoon could be dangerous.
Food, water and lodging have been provided, the center said, adding that tourists would be able to leave when conditions are considered safe.
A total of 26 people, including two foreigners, staying at Taichung's Lishan Guesthouse — atop the city's Li Mountain (梨山) — have also been asked to remain on the mountain.
Twenty-four visitors who were all part of the same tour group initially tried to leave the mountain at 7am, but were forced to turn back.
The CEOC said residents continued to be evacuated today in New Taipei City, Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Hsinchu, Nantou, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung counties.
As of 8am, 8,600 people had been relocated and 71 emergency shelters had been set up, the CEOC said, adding that 1,321 people are currently sheltering there.
Power outages, flooding and mudslides have taken place across the country, especially in the east.
In Hualien County's Yuli (玉里) and Jhuosi (卓溪) townships, rainfall exceeded 300mm within 24 hours, triggering mudslides that obstructed roads and damaged infrastructure.
Local authorities reported rivers overflowing, which washed away a bridge in Hualien's Fuli Township (富里).
Roads in Yuli Township were also blocked by fallen trees, with landslides and muddy waters flooding homes, parks and essential roadways.
Chiang Tung-cheng (江東成), head of Fuli Township, reminded residents in hazardous areas who have been evacuated to follow the authorities' instructions and avoid returning on their own.
About 96,000 households were without power as of 1pm, including more than 23,000 in Taitung County and more than 14,000 each in Hualien County, New Taipei City and Chiayi County, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) said.
The CWA said it expects the eye of the storm to pull away from the west coast of Taiwan sometime overnight, followed by the storm's outer rim tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, President William Lai (賴清德) inspected the CEOC and thanked the public and private sector for their collaboration in emergency response.
Lai said swift reconstruction is a priority, with immediate aid being planned to support the agriculture sector and help communities return to normal.
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