Typhoon “Koinu” caused devastation on the island nation of Taiwan. More than 300 people were injured and one woman was killed. The tropical storm continues towards China.
At least 300 people were injured in Taiwan by Typhoon Koinu. An 84-year-old woman died in the storm. “Koinu” also caused devastation; power went out in around 330,000 households. As the authorities of the East Asian island state announced, almost the entire country was affected by “Koinu”. Schools remained closed almost everywhere in the region today. Most companies also stopped operations due to the tropical storm.
Accidents and devastation caused by “Koinu”
Koinu is the second typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan this year. In September, cyclone Haikui hit the island, injuring more than 100 people. This time, heavy rain and strong winds caused problems, especially in the south of the country. On the island of Lan Yu, also known as Orchid Island, in the southeast, a weather station registered gusts of a record 340 kilometers per hour.
According to the emergency center, local authorities reported more than 1,700 accidents, such as falling trees, falling shop signs, road damage and mud floods. More than 220 domestic and international flights were canceled due to the typhoon. Trains and ferries in the affected areas also did not run. Several power lines snapped and local media showed photos of collapsed homes.
Tropical storm preparation
The typhoon had been expected for several days. “Koinu” approached from the southeast across the Pacific, where the storm area continued to gain strength. In the meantime, the storm grew into a super typhoon with gusts of up to 200 kilometers per hour. As a precaution, ferry traffic between the smaller islands belonging to Taiwan was suspended and around 200 people had to leave their homes due to the risk of landslides.
The cyclone is now moving more slowly and, according to meteorologists, is expected to drift further west towards southern China. In China, the authorities have already warned about “Koinu” and precautionary measures are also being taken in the country.