Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
Shaw remains in critical condition, although she has improved slightly since Saturday night's car accident that cost her her spleen and part of her left forearm.
Hu, who suffered only minor injuries in the accident, made his first public appearance since the crash at a press conference at Chimei Hospital in Tainan County yesterday afternoon.
"I hope everyone can help me," said Hu, who broke into tears. "Thanks to everyone who has been praying for my wife and showing their concern for my wife in the past few days. I believe this has helped my wife."
"Taiwan has a kind society. Every Taiwanese has a kind heart," he said. "I wanted to thank the doctors from Chimei Hospital, National Taiwan University Hospital and others who have helped my wife."
Hu's daughter and son released a joint statement yesterday, saying "our mother is a good person. We hope she will recover soon."
Chimei Hospital superintendent Chan Chi-shean (
"She was able to open her eyes and she also could feel pain, indicating her brain is functioning better," Chan said.
"While her condition is improving, she remains in crisis. The next hours will be critical," Chan said.
Saturday night's accident took place on the northbound section of the Formosa Freeway in Tainan County as Hu and his wife were heading back to Taichung from Kaohsiung after campaigning for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Kaohsiung candidate Huang Chun-ying (
Their car was hit by a vehicle that was trying to pass a truck.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old
SEA SEARCH: Nine crew members of a cargo ship had taken to the water after the vessel sunk off the southern coast, with a rescue effort under way, officials said The strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years yesterday killed three people and flooded parts of the nation’s second-biggest city, while rescuers were searching for nine sailors after their cargo ship sank in the storm. Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in Kaohsiung into rivers, with some households flooded. Offices and schools were closed for the second consecutive day, with thousands of people evacuated. Three people died and 380 were injured due to strong winds and torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Gaemi, the Central Emergency Response Center said. The typhoon made landfall in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) at midnight yesterday and departed Taiwan