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3,000 Taiwanese ready to face Typhoon Haikui. PHOTO/ AFP
TAIPE – Hundreds of domestic flights were canceled and more than 3,000 residents were evacuated as Taiwan prepared to face the arrival of Typhoon Haikui.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the south and east of the island.
Typhoon Haikui, which brought heavy rain this morning, is expected to hit at 5pm in Taitung, a sparsely populated mountainous region in eastern Taiwan.
The typhoon brought sustained winds of about 154 kilometers per hour, causing businesses in the southern and eastern parts of the island to close for the rest of the day.
“Typhoon Haikui is expected to pose a major threat to most areas in Taiwan with wind, rain and waves.
“This typhoon has been gathering strength since yesterday. The storm will move west of the Taiwan Strait on Monday. “The public is advised to be alert,” said Deputy Director of the Weather Bureau, Fong Chin-tzu, as reported by AFP, Sunday (3/9/2023).
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told a meeting of disaster management officials that the typhoon was the first to hit the island and cross its central mountains in four years.
“People should avoid leaving their homes and not climb mountains, go to the beach, fish or do water sports,” Ing-wen said in a statement.
The military has reportedly moved personnel and equipment such as amphibious vehicles and ships around areas of Taiwan that are expected to be badly affected.
(wbs)
