Typhoon Kaemi was expected to make landfall in eastern Taiwan early this morning, pounding the east coast, Penghu and Kinmen counties and regions south of Hsinchu County with heavy winds and rains.
As of 9:15pm yesterday, the center of the fifth typhoon of the year was located 90km southeast of Taitung County. It was moving northwest at 16kph, with the radius of the storm reaching 200km, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).
Heavy rains are likely in Taitung and Hualien counties and the mountainous areas in central and southern Taiwan, the CWB said.
Rain and winds in the western part of the country are not expected to turn stronger until this morning, as the region is shielded by the central mountains.
CWB spokesman Lu Kuo-cheng (
The bureau alerted people to the danger of landslides, falling rocks, and swelling streams and rivers in the mountains caused by torrential rain.
A tour bus was hit by a falling rock in Taroko National Park yesterday, injuring five.
Tourists were evacuated yesterday from Green Island and Orchid Island.
Residents in Taitung were dismissed from work and classes as of 4pm yesterday, and Orchid Islanders also left work and classes yesterday afternoon.
But Keelung residents must attend school or work today, the Keelung City Government announced yesterday.
The weather bureau also warned people in low-lying areas of possible flooding caused by riptides.
Anyone who swims in the sea or gets too close to the waves during the typhoon will be fined up to NT$250,000 according to the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Law (
Domestic flights to and from Hualien and Taitung were canceled as of 3pm yesterday.
Far Eastern Air Transport also canceled its flights after 6pm yesterday between Taipei and Tainan, and between Taipei and Kaohsiung, while Mandarin Airlines canceled all flights after 3pm. Today's domestic flights on Uni Air have also been canceled.
Trains to Alishan have been canceled until the typhoon has passed, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA).
The Taiwan Railway Administration announced last night that express trains operating on the North Link, South Link and the Hualian-Taitung line would be canceled today.
Ships commuting between Penghu and Chiayi counties have been canceled for three days, starting yesterday.
Tourist ferries in Kaohsiung City have been canceled until the city lifts its typhoon alert.
Vegetable supplies are normal, with the average price of each transaction being NT$37.7, the COA said in its press release yesterday.
Parking along yellow and red lines in Taipei City will not be allowed during this storm, the city's Department of Transportation announced yesterday.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College