Taiwan is currently experiencing the devastating impact of Typhoon Haikui, which made landfall in the eastern part of the country on Sunday. This powerful storm has brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread power outages, making it the first major typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in four years.
As a precautionary measure, nearly 4,000 individuals have been evacuated from high-risk areas, and hundreds of flights have been canceled while businesses remain closed. The Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan has warned the public about the approaching typhoon and confirmed its landfall in Taitung, a mountainous county on the coast, at 3:40 pm (0740 GMT) on Sunday.
Residents are being advised to stay indoors, away from windows, as the strong gusts of wind have already uprooted trees and sent water tanks flying through the air. One resident in Taitung described the situation as serious, with trees toppling even before the full force of the storm arrived.
Throughout the island, over 21,000 households experienced power outages. While most of them have had their electricity restored, around 9,000 households, including those in Taitung, are still without power. Two minor injuries have been reported in Hualien county, where a flash flood warning was issued after a tree fell onto a car. Both Hualien and Taitung counties are currently under a torrential rainfall advisory, which is expected to last until Monday afternoon.
The last major typhoon to hit Taiwan was Typhoon Bailu in 2019, claiming one life. The impact of Haikui is expected to be more severe, with sustained winds of about 140km per hour. The typhoon is projected to move into the Taiwan Strait by Monday evening.
As the recovery and restoration efforts continue, it is crucial for residents and authorities to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected communities.