Typhoon Fung-wong swept across the nation yesterday, weakening dramatically as it crossed the Central Mountain Range before entering the Taiwan Strait at 2:30pm, but still managing to bring torrential rain to most parts of the nation.
As of 10:30pm, the center of the typhoon was located about 110km south of Matsu. It was moving northwest at a speed of 15kph.
The maximum wind speed detected near the center of the typhoon topped 119kph and the radius of the storm reached 220km.
PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
The Central Weather Bureau predicted that while Taiwan proper will be completely out of the storm’s radius by this morning, Matsu and Kinmen would remain affected by the storm through this afternoon.
The bureau, however, warned residents in central and southern regions about heavy or torrential rain brought by the southwest air stream that would occur following the typhoon’s departure.
Deputy director at the bureau’s Weather Forecast Center Lin Hsiu-wen (林秀雯) said yesterday the force of the typhoon gradually weakened after it made landfall yesterday morning, adding that it would continue to move northwest toward China’s Fujian Province in the next few days.
As of press time, Taipingshan (太平山), Ilan County, topped the accumulated rainfall statistics with 821mm. It was followed by Bruwan (布洛灣), Hualien County, and Shichiusishan (西丘斯山), Hsinchu County, with 758mm and 523mm.
Southern and central regions had begun to see a drastic increase in rainfall, Lin said. In some cities, the level had reached 50mm per hour.
Taipao City (太保), Chiayi County, topped the scale, receiving 87mm of rain in one hour yesterday afternoon, between 3pm and 4pm, while Wuling Township (武陵), Taichung County, had received 441mm, Shangdewen Township (上德文), Pingtung County, saw 336mm and Nantienchi (南天池), Kaohsiung County, had received 318.5mm.
Several hundred coastal residences in Changhua County were hit by a blackout for several hours, Central News Agency (CNA) reported.
The typhoon made landfall between Chinpu (靜浦), Hualien County, and Changbin (長濱), Taitung County, at 6:50am.
The east coast faced the most immediate threat from the typhoon yesterday morning, with damage reported in both Hualien and Taitung counties.
The Central Emergency Operation Center reported that strong winds killed a man in Taitung after he fell while repairing the roof of his warehouse. The man, identified as 68-year-old Lo Tien-guey (羅添貴), was found face down in a paddy field next to the warehouse.
Also, a 58-year-old woman in Tainan County named Chu Hsiu-ying (朱秀英) was killed when she fell from her motorcycle into a gutter.
Meanwhile, the center also reported that 31 rivers in Guangfu (光復) and Hsiulin (秀林), Hualien County, were listed as on red alert for mudslides.
Residents living close to the rivers were forced to evacuate when the rising water was poised to inundate their houses. CNA reported that 462 people in Hualien were either placed in shelters or staying with relatives because of the typhoon.
At press time, six injuries were also reported in Taipei City, Ilan County and Kaohsiung City.
The typhoon also disrupted transportation systems nationwide. Both the Taiwan Railway Administration and Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp announced on Sunday that a majority of trains scheduled to run yesterday would be canceled. Both companies had managed to resume partial operations by last night.
Damage was reported on several highways, including provincial highways No. 7, No. 8, No. 9, No. 14, No. 21 and No. 24.
Domestic airlines also canceled their flights.
Lin said the bureau, which was harshly criticized for its inaccurate forecasting when Tropical Storm Kalmaegi hit earlier this month, was able to forecast the movements of Fung-wong more precisely because the typhoon had a more solid structure.
Lee Cheng-shang (李清勝), professor of atmospheric sciences at National Taiwan University, said a phenomenon of vertical decoupling occurred after Fung-wong made landfall yesterday and crossed the Central Mountain Range.
“While the typhoon’s upper-level air stream managed to cross the mountain range, the air stream at the lower level has gone to the west through the north coast,” he said.
The phenomenon will cause sporadic rain nationwide as the typhoon takes time to redevelop a new center, meaning it will stay on land longer before moving out over the sea.
Fung-wong’s short stay caused NT$177 million (US$5.8 million) in agricultural losses, with the majority — about NT$167million — occurring in Hualien County, CNA reported.
The county reached the threshold necessary to apply for government subsidies for the losses, the Council of Agriculture said yesterday, adding that it urged all farmers who had suffered financial losses to apply as soon as possible.
Most cities and counties, including Taipei, Tainan and Hsinchu, were expected to resume work and re-open schools today, CNA reported.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday slammed Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) and Taitung County Commissioner Kuang Li-chen (鄺麗貞) for not returning to Taiwan ahead of the typhoon.
DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said Hu and Kuang should have canceled their overseas trips and returned to deal with the potential damage caused by the storm.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RICH CHANG
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
SUPPORT: Arms sales to NATO Plus countries such as Japan, South Korea and Israel only have to be approved by the US Congress if they exceed US$25m The US should amend a law to add Taiwan to the list of “NATO Plus” allies and streamline future arms sales, a US commission said on Tuesday in its annual report to the US Congress. The recommendation was made in the annual report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), which contained chapters on US-China economic and trade ties, security relations, and Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the chapter on Taiwan, the commission urged the US Congress to “amend the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to include Taiwan on the list of ‘NATO Plus’ recipients,” referring to
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
Minister of Labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) said she would tender her resignation following criticism of her handling of alleged bullying by Ministry of Labor Workforce Development Agency branch director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容) resulting in the death of an employee. The ministry yesterday gave Hsieh two demerits and said she is subject to review by the Disciplinary Court. The severest possible punishment would be her removal from office and being barred from government jobs indefinitely. Workforce Development Agency Director-General Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良) also received a major demerit and was transferred to another position. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a formal apology
RSS