storm
Typhoon “Haikui” rages in Taiwan – warning also for China
Scooter riders stand at an intersection in Taipei in heavy rain. photo
© Chiang Ying-ying/AP
Heavy rainfall, fallen trees, traffic accidents: Typhoon “Haiku” raged in Taiwan – now it’s moving towards China. The authorities warn there too.
At least 116 people are dead in Taiwan due to heavy rain and storm Typhoon Haikui injured. Those affected included car and scooter drivers who were injured in traffic accidents caused by falling trees, according to Taiwan’s emergency center.
According to the authorities, the electricity failed in around 260,000 households. 8,000 people were brought to safety before the typhoon. A little over 1900 people were housed in public facilities.
Strong winds knocked down trees in the east and south of the country. Wind speeds reached up to 190 kilometers per hour on Sunday. Landslides and flooding occurred locally.
Taiwan’s Interior Minister Lin Yu-Chang called on the population to remain extremely vigilant as the heavy rains of the past few days could lead to floods in some mountainous areas. The typhoon warning is not expected to be lifted until Tuesday.
“Haikui” moves on to southern China
According to the emergency center, “Haikui” passed the south of the country on Monday morning (local time) and headed across the sea through the Taiwan Strait to southern China. The authorities there also warned of the effects of the storm.
The national weather office called out the third highest typhoon warning level. “Haikui” is said to bring severe storms and heavy rains to the southern and eastern parts of the country. China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also issued a warning. South China and Hong Kong were hit by Typhoon Saola over the weekend.
Strong hurricanes occur again and again in the summer months and hit numerous countries in Southeast Asia.