The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) last night issued a sea alert for Typhoon Khanun as it moved closer to northeast Taiwan and said that it does not rule out issuing a land alert.
The sea alert applies to vessels operating off Taiwan’s north and northeast coasts, it said.
China Airlines (中華航空), EVA Airways (長榮航空), Starlux Airlines (星宇航空) and Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) canceled flights that were to depart for Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture today, as Naha Airport remained closed due to the approaching storm.
As of 8:30pm yesterday, Khanun was centered 650km east of Taipei and was moving northwest at 12kph, CWB data showed.
The maximum wind speed near its center was 162kph and its radius was 280km, the data showed.
CWB forecaster Lin Ting-yi (林定宜) said that the typhoon had strengthened as it decelerated.
Rain in northern Taiwan yesterday was from its outer edges, Lin added.
Rain would continue until tomorrow, particularly in mountainous areas, he said, adding that the CWB could still issue a land alert in northern Taiwan, depending on where the typhoon turns north and at what angle.
Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華), a senior specialist in the CWB’s Weather Forecast Center, said that Khanun’s intensity is forecast to continue increasing as it moves west, adding that it is not expected to weaken until after it turns north, likely on Friday.
Khanun is expected to be closest to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, but chances of rain are high today in northern, central and southern Taiwan, Wu said.
Highs in Hualien and Taitung counties could top 36°C today because of sinking air, the CWB said.
High waves are forecast today on the northern and eastern coastline, as well as on Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼) and Green Island, and in the Hengchun Peninsula and Lienchiang County, while northern coastal areas, Hengchun, Orchid Island and Green Island could have winds of up to Level 9 or 10 on the Beaufort Scale, the bureau said.
People in low-lying coastal areas should beware of seawater intrusion, as the storm’s approach coincides with the spring tide, it said.
Showers are forecast for central and southern Taiwan from Saturday to Monday next week, while afternoon showers are forecast for the rest of the nation, it added.
PLA MANEUVERS: Although Beijing has yet to formally announce military drills, its coast guard vessels have been spotted near and around Taiwan since Friday The Taiwanese military is on high alert and is closely monitoring the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) air and naval deployments after Beijing yesterday reserved seven airspace areas east of its Zhejiang and Fujian provinces through Wednesday. Beijing’s action was perceived as a precursor to a potential third “Joint Sword” military exercise, which national security experts said the PLA could launch following President William Lai’s (賴清德) state visits to the nation’s three Pacific allies and stopovers in Hawaii and Guam last week. Unlike the Joint Sword military exercises in May and October, when Beijing provided detailed information about the affected areas, it
CHINA: The activities come amid speculation that Beijing might launch military exercises in response to Lai’s recent visit to Pacific allies The Ministry of National Defense (MND) yesterday said China had nearly doubled the number of its warships operating around the nation in the previous 24 hours, ahead of what security sources expect would be a new round of war games. China’s military activities come amid speculation Beijing might organize military drills around the nation in response to President William Lai’s (賴清德) recent visit to Pacific allies, including stops in Hawaii and Guam, a US territory. Lai returned from the week-long trip on Friday night. Beijing has held two rounds of war games around Taiwan this year, and sends ships and military planes
Five flights have been arranged to help nearly 2,000 Taiwanese tourists return home from Okinawa after being stranded due to cruise ship maintenance issues, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced yesterday. China Airlines Ltd (中華航空), and EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) have arranged five flights with a total of 748 additional seats to transport 1,857 passengers from the MSC Bellissima back to Taiwan, the ministry said. The flights have been scheduled for yesterday and today by the Civil Aviation Administration, with the cruise operator covering all associated costs. The MSC Bellissima, carrying 4,341 passengers, departed from Keelung on Wednesday last week for Okinawa,
US president-elect Donald Trump said he would “never say” if Washington is committed to defending Taiwan from China, but “I would prefer that they do not do it [ an attack],” adding that he has a “good relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). “I never say because I have to negotiate things, right?” Trump said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker after saying he would not reveal his incoming administration’s stance on Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. Asked the question again, Trump, in a reference to China, said: “I would prefer that they
RSS