As Typhoon Nari approached central parts of the country yesterday afternoon, local governments in the region evacuated residents from danger zones such as low-lying land and hillside villages. They seemed, by all accounts, to have had the effects of the storm under control by yesterday evening.
The latest information, however, was that serious mudslides had occurred in Nantou County's Hsinyi village and that there were floods in Taichung City.
There were no reports of casualties. Local governments announced the closure today of schools and offices.
"Over 4,000 people have been evacuated to secure buildings," said an official from the Nantou County disaster rescue center. "Fortunately, there are no major problems for the time being."
Lin Kun-lung (林坤龍), a high-ranking official at the county's fire department, inspected villages that have suffered frequently in the last five years due to earthquakes and storms.
Lin said that damage was limited to the destruction of a few temporary bridges that linked the villages in the remote districts.
"Fortunately, those villages have stored enough food and electricity and water supplies, and communications are all operational," the official told reporters.
"All members of the rescue teams are well prepared and have the necessary equipment," Lin said. "And we are standing by to handle any unexpected accidents."
Nantou County mountain inspector Lee Chin-chung (李慶忠) said last night that the weather was calm and that Chungliao village residents had decided to return to their homes from a temporary shelter.
"They had evacuated but returned home because the weather is not as bad as it is in northern Taiwan," Lee said. "But we are keeping the shelter prepared in case of an unexpected situation."
Taichung City Mayor Chang Wen-ying (張溫鷹), Deputy Commissioner of Taichung County Chen Yu-hsin (陳雨鑫) and Nantou County Commissioner Peng Pai-hsien (彭百顯) participated in disaster prevention work yesterday.
In Taichung City and County, some low-lying areas flooded while rain intensified yesterday evening.
No one was stranded by flooding, thanks to emergency measures taken by the city government to evacuate residents earlier in the day.
Police in Taichung City, however, still had to help a few residents who ignored the government's warnings and remained in their homes near the Fatzu River (筏子溪). They were taken to temporary shelters.
The river flooded when Ty-phoon Toraji struck on July 31, causing casualties and destroying bridges. The city's disaster rescue center closed the area to traffic around the river's banks last night.
In Miaoli County (苗栗縣), one woman described the effects of a mudslide on her home. "Rocks and mud suddenly rolled down the hill behind my home, and my house collapsed immediately," she said.
The woman and her husband escaped to a temporary shelter.
Local officials in central Taiwan had activated a network of temporary shelters to protect residents from the worst effects of the storm on receiving notice of the typhoon's approach.
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