Commuters in Taipei picked their way through debris and navigated disrupted transit schedules this morning on their way to work and school, as the city was still working to clear the streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey.
By 11pm yesterday, there were estimated 2,000 trees down in the city, as well as 390 reports of infrastructure damage, 318 reports of building damage and 307 reports of fallen signs, the Taipei Public Works Department said.
Workers were mobilized late last night to clear the debris as soon as possible, the department said.
Photo: CNA
However, as of this morning, many people were leaving messages on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) Facebook page reporting blocked roads and absent buses during the morning commute.
The city last night announced that work and class would resume today, drawing complaints from some residents and borough representatives who said they were still assessing the damage.
There were also delays on the Taiwan Railway, as a power outage on the westward track diverted all trains to a single line between the busy Sijhih (汐止) and Nangang (南港) stations.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
Roads within the river embankment by Donghu (東湖) and Sijhih had opened to traffic by 6am, but 32 evacuations gates along the lower Keelung (基隆河), Tamsui (淡水河), Sindian (新店溪) and Jingmei (景美溪) rivers remained closed, the department said.
Photo: CNA
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