Tropical Storm Bilis pounded the country yesterday, forcing schools and offices to close and disrupting air and rail traffic.
The Central Weather Bureau forecast that Bilis will have completed its sweep across the country and be approximately 60km northwest of Hsinchu County by 8am this morning.
Bureau spokesman Wu De-rong (吳德榮) yesterday said the structure of Bilis was "loose" and it was therefore unlikely to increase in intensity as it made landfall.
PHOTO: WANG CHUN-FONG, TAIPEI TIMES
Because of its weak structure, the amount of rain and the storm's wind speed did not evidently increase after making landfall, Wu said.
However, the bureau warned of heavy rainfall today and tomorrow due to the lingering results of the storm and said that rainfall in mountainous southern areas may exceed 1,000mm.
The bureau also urged the public to take precautionary measures against heavy rain, landslides and floods, and warned against engaging in activities in coastal areas.
Flights from Taiwan to the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu were canceled yesterday and as of press time it was still unclear whether flights would resume today.
A total of 487 geological lines that are potential mudslide risks had been identified around the nation as Bilis swept across Taiwan, officials from the Central Disaster Response Center (CDRC) reported yesterday.
The center reported that as of 4pm, a total of 4,272 Chinese fishermen had been allowed to take temporary shelter at fishing ports around Taiwan.
Power outages had been reported in 25 places, all in Taitung County, while 27 mobile phone base stations islandwide had been damaged because of torrential rain.
An accident was reported in Ilan County in which a large truck spun out of control and hit a residential building, knocking down power lines. No injuries were reported.
In Taipei City yesterday, cars were allowed to park on yellow and red lines along the curb. However, because of the closing of flood gates in Taipei City and County, many cars were parked on overpasses, causing traffic jams.
Meanwhile, vegetable prices continued to climb, with the wholesale price of scallions (green onions) reaching roughly NT$215 (US$6.72) per kilogram from NT$150 on Wednesday.
The Council of Agriculture announced yesterday that the average retail price for vegetables was NT$35.15, a notable increase from NT$29.7 on Wednesday.
However, the council urged the public not to hoard vegetables at this time, because the effect of the typhoon would only be temporary.
Meanwhile the defense ministry announced that rehearsals for the annual Hankuang 22 military exercises scheduled for today in Ilan are to be postponed. The ministry said the decision was made for the safety of soldiers who will take part in the drill.
No casualties or injuries had been reported as of press time.
Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday said he would punish government officials who did not do their best to help avoid potential disasters caused by Tropical Storm Bilis.
Su began his working day yesterday morning at 8am by arriving at the disaster-response headquarters that had been established to deal with the tropical storm.
Su also confirmed Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) decision to cut his trip to Japan by one day in order to return to Taipei to oversee the city's response to the tropical storm.
Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang
also see stories:
RT-Mart, Carrefour Taiwan compete on vegetable prices
FTV wins the battle of the rock festivals
GEARING UP: An invasion would be difficult and would strain China’s forces, but it has conducted large-scale training supporting an invasion scenario, the report said China increased its military pressure on Taiwan last year and took other steps in preparation for a potential invasion, an annual report published by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday showed. “Throughout 2023, Beijing continued to erode longstanding norms in and around Taiwan by employing a range of pressure tactics against Taiwan,” the report said, which is titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 2024.” The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “is preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force, if perceived as necessary by Beijing, while simultaneously deterring, delaying or denying
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION: A statement issued following a meeting between Australia and Britain reiterated support for Taiwan and opposition to change in the Taiwan Strait Canada should support the peaceful resolution of Taiwan’s destiny according to the will of Taiwanese, Canadian lawmakers said in a resolution marking the second anniversary of that nation’s Indo-Pacific strategy on Monday. The Canadian House of Commons committee on Canada-Chinese relations made the comment as part of 34 recommendations for the new edition of the strategy, adding that Ottawa should back Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, first published in October 2022, emphasized that the region’s security, trade, human rights, democracy and environmental protection would play a crucial role in shaping Canada’s future. The strategy called for Canada to deepen
QUICK LOOK: The amendments include stricter recall requirements and Constitutional Court procedures, as well as a big increase in local governments’ budgets Portions of controversial amendments to tighten requirements for recalling officials and Constitutional Court procedures were passed by opposition lawmakers yesterday following clashes between lawmakers in the morning, as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members tried to block Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators from entering the chamber. Parts of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and Constitutional Court Procedure Act (憲法訴訟法) passed the third reading yesterday. The legislature was still voting on various amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) as of press time last night, after the session was extended to midnight. Amendments to Article 4
‘ONE BRIDGE’: The US president-elect met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 in Florida and the two discussed a potential Taiwan-China conflict’s implications for world peace US president-elect Donald Trump has described Taiwan as “a major issue for world peace” during a meeting with Akie Abe, the widow of late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun quoted sources as saying in a report yesterday. Trump met with Akie Abe on Dec. 15 at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where the two discussed the Russo-Ukrainian war and the situation in the Taiwan Strait. During the meeting, Trump spoke on the implications for world peace of a potential Taiwan-China conflict, which “indicated his administration’s stance of placing importance on dealing with the situation in
RSS