More people have been injured following torrential rain and strong gusts brought by Typhoon Doksuri, the Central Emergency Operation Center said in a news conference yesterday, as the Central Weather Bureau lifted its land and sea warnings.
As of 3pm yesterday, there were 68 injuries and one death in total caused by Doksuri, the center said.
Five people were taken to hospital by emergency responders after being blown over by strong winds while they were on their scooters, the center said.
Photo: CNA
One person in Tainan had to be sent to hospital due to breathing difficulties, as they were unable to use their ventilator at home following a power outage, it said.
In Penghu County, a 59-year-old man surnamed Kao (高) remained in a coma after he went fishing on Thursday evening. He is thought to have been pulled into the water by strong waves which led to his head hitting the rocks.
As of 2:46pm yesterday, the nation had 3,936 typhoon-related cases, the majority involving damaged infrastructure and fallen trees, the center said.
Kaohsiung had the most fallen trees at 1,082, followed by Tainan with 773.
Tainan and Kaohsiung also had the most infrastructure damage at 234 and 228 respectively.
Waves up to 5m high could be seen in coastal areas of southern and southwestern Taiwan, the center said, adding that people in those areas should avoid wave-watching.
The center also said there is a likelihood of flooding in low-lying areas of Kinmen and Penghu counties.
The weather bureau lifted land and sea typhoon warnings at 5:30pm yesterday as the storm weakened, leaving Taiwan proper at about noon and making landfall in China’s Fujian Province at 10am.
As of 5pm yesterday, 324,930 households — mostly in Kaohsiung and Kinmen County — had been affected by power cuts caused by Doksuri, Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) said.
As of press time last night, more than 95 percent of households have had power restored, leaving 15,556 still without electricity, Taipower said.
Efforts to restore power supply continue, but that would depend on weather and traffic conditions, Taipower said.
Agricultural losses totaled an estimated NT$26.63 million (US$852,487) by 11am yesterday, mostly from damaged watermelon and rice crops in Hualien County, the center said.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration said that as of 10am, 180 domestic flights had been canceled and two were delayed, while 14 international and cross-strait flights were canceled and 32 were delayed.
The Maritime Port Bureau said that a total of 144 ferries on 18 routes between Taiwan proper and Matsu, Penghu, Siaoliouciou Island (小琉球), Green Island (綠島) and Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼), as well as services connecting the Matsu and Kinmen islands to ports in China’s Fujian Province were canceled yesterday.
In addition, ferry operators announced yesterday that services between Siaoliouciou Island and Taiwan proper would be suspended today for safety reasons, after the Central Weather Bureau forecast waves up to 1.8m high and strong winds.
However, ferry services between Taitung and Green Island, Taitung and Orchid Island, and Houbihu Port (後壁湖) in Pingtung County and Orchid Island are scheduled to resume today, several ferry companies said.
The Taitung County Government said yesterday afternoon it was to begin clearing fallen trees and branches blocking ships from entering and leaving the Fugang Fishing Port (富岡漁港).
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