The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said it might issue a land warning for Typhoon Hinnamnor today and the issuance of a sea warning is highly probable as the storm is expected to draw near Taiwan.
The typhoon, which was 480km east of Hualien County as of 2pm yesterday, was moving south-southwest at 8kph with winds of up to 234kph, the bureau’s Web site showed.
Category 9 and 10 winds were reported on Taiwan proper’s east and northeast coasts, and on the coasts of northern Tainan, as well as in Penghu County, Lienchiang County and Pingtung County’s Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) and Green Island (綠島), bureau forecaster Huang En-hong (黃恩鴻) told the Central News Agency.
Predictions on the path of the storm have begun to converge, with most experts saying that Hinnamnor would turn north 300km to 400km off Hualien, he said.
Hinnamnor has gathered strength after absorbing a smaller tropical depression, which is likely to increase its radius from 220km to 300km, with maximum eye wall winds of up to 208kph today, he said.
The issuance of a land warning cannot be “completely ruled out” because the storm might leave its predicted course and move west instead, most severely affecting New Taipei City’s Jinguashi (金瓜石) area, he said.
Photo: CNA
The typhoon is expected to cause heavy rain in northern and northeastern Taiwan until Sunday, with localized torrential rains possibly occurring in the mountains and along the northern coast near Keelung, he said.
Showers, including afternoon thundershowers, would likely occur throughout the country today and tomorrow, he said.
As Hinnamnor is expected to move away from Taiwan proper on Sunday, showers would likely continue in the northern, central and southern regions, while other places might see sunny conditions, he said.
However, afternoon thundershowers could still occur in the mountains on Sunday, he said.
Separately, the Central Election Commission said political candidates for the November elections might register until Saturday — a day after the original deadline — should local governments suspend registration services due to weather conditions.
If weather-related disruptions occur, the affected candidates can register on the first day of the resumption of service in accordance with election laws, it said.
Local task forces were established throughout the country to bolster storm safety at election commission offices to protect election workers, candidates and their staffers, it said.
The Examination Yuan said exams for prospective civil servants would be held on the weekend as scheduled.
People seeking government jobs in foreign affairs, international economics and trade, civil aviation, and indigenous affairs attending tomorrow’s tests should stay vigilant about personal safety and check weather updates regularly, it said.
The exams for foreign affairs, international economics and trade, and civil aviation would be held in Taipei, while indigenous affairs tests would also be held in Nantou, Pingtung, Hualien and Taitung counties, it said.
The written portion of the exams would take place tomorrow and on Sunday, to be followed by in-person interviews and English-language proficiency assessments on Monday, it said.
These tests are the primary method for the government to select people to work in diplomacy, international exchanges and civil aviation, it said.
The selection of civil servants to work in fields related to indigenous affairs are part of the government’s drive to boost employment rates for indigenous people, it said.
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