As the largest storm to hit Taiwan in nearly 30 years swept over the nation on Thursday, causing two deaths, more than 600 injuries and significant damage to infrastructure, most Taiwanese resumed work and classes the next day, showing the nation’s disaster resilience.
On the other hand, doctors and epidemiologists have reminded the public of the importance of post-typhoon cleanup safety to help prevent the spread of illness and diseases.
Typhoon Kong-rey was packing winds of 184kph when it made landfall in eastern Taiwan, and the strong winds and downpours caused flooding and mudslides, toppled trees, blew off metal roofs and store signs, damaged vehicles and caused power outages. Official statistics released on Saturday showed that more than 11,000 people were evacuated before the storm, which had knocked out power to nearly 1 million households, cut off water supply to more than 63,000 households, uprooted more than 2,000 trees in Taipei alone and caused flooding at more than 100 locations.
As the typhoon weakened to a tropical storm overnight and moved away, work and classes resumed in most of Taiwan on Friday, although some commuters complained that some rail services were still suspended or navigating through streets with fallen branches and debris was too dangerous.
Local media have picked up on reports by foreign media praising Taiwan’s typhoon preparedness, such as a CNN report that said: “Taiwan generally has a strong track record of responding to major typhoons.”
Reuters reported Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co as saying it had activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures and did not expect a significant impact to its operations, and AFP on Friday reported that “life was returning to normal, with offices, restaurants and schools reopening.”
As of Saturday morning, power was restored to more than 95 percent of the affected households and water supply to more than 85 percent, railways resumed full operations and most streets in Taipei reopened to traffic, while workers continue to remove fallen branches from sidewalks and parks — seemingly proving Taiwan’s high resilience to typhoon disruption.
However, despite speedy recovery in many parts of society, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Friday urged people to take preventive measures against illness and disease — including dengue fever, leptospirosis, melioidosis, tetanus and intestinal infectious diseases — during post-typhoon clean-up.
CDC statistics showed that 101 cases, including 20 deaths, of melioidosis — a disease which spreads to people and animals through direct contact with contaminated soil, air or water — were reported this year, as of Monday last week, the highest number on record.
Melioidosis cases increase after typhoons as the bacteria that cause it rise to the soil’s surface and spread with strong winds and heavy rain. Sixty-nine cases were reported in the month after Typhoon Kaemi struck in late July, and six cases were reported after Krathon last month.
The CDC said prompt cleanup efforts after typhoons are critical for disease prevention, as accumulated rain and flooding can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread dengue fever. People should patrol their environment, empty standing water, clean and scrub as soon as possible.
The CDC has advised the public to wear protective clothing, including waterproof boots, work gloves, hard hats and a mask during cleanup to avoid potential dangers of cuts and scrapes, and direct exposure to contaminated soil or water. It also advised immunocompromised people to wear a mask and avoid opening windows during and shortly after a typhoon to avoid breathing in contaminated dust or water droplets.
Standing water can become a vehicle of several illness-causing pathogens. The CDC urged people to wash their hands thoroughly with soap after contact with floodwater, sanitize flooded surfaces with household bleach, and only drink bottled or boiled water.
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