Failing to heed instructions to leave dangerous coastal areas while a typhoon sea warning is in effect could result in fines of up to NT$250,000, the National Fire Agency said on Monday.
The Central Weather Bureau is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Mawar on Monday evening as the storm approaches Taiwan.
Waves have already picked up along the east coast from Keelung to the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島), with swells as high as 5m already spotted in New Taipei City’s Longdong (龍洞), Suao Township (蘇澳) and Turtle Island (Gueishan Island, 龜山島) in Yilan County, and Hualien.
Photo: CNA
As the swells have traveled quickly over a long distance, they hold a lot of energy and are difficult to spot out at sea, the agency said.
These “rogue waves” break violently along rough coastal terrain such as fishing spots, reefs and sea walls, resulting in dangerous conditions that already pulled four people out to sea on Sunday, it said.
Under the Act for the Development of Tourism (發展觀光條例), local authorities may impose restrictions on aquatic activities for safety, punishable by fines of between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.
When a sea typhoon warning is in effect, those who visit restricted areas without permission and do not leave when requested to do so may be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 under the Disaster Prevention and Protection Act (災害防救法), the agency said.
When warnings are in place, the agency advised the public to avoid the shore, rivers and mountainous areas, and to pay attention to local announcements regarding restricted zones.
Additionally, Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan County on Monday announced the park would be closed from 4pm on Tuesday until Friday, depending on weather conditions.
Turtle Island would also be closed to visitors for three days starting on Tuesday.
As of 2pm on Monday, Typhoon Mawar was 581km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) traveling northwest at 10kph. Maximum sustained winds were 155kph with gusts of 191kph.
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