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taipei. Heavy rain and strong winds wreaked havoc in Taiwan as the biggest typhoon in nearly three decades hit the island’s southeast coast. The storm killed at least one person and injured dozens. Typhoon Kong-Re had wind speeds of about 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph), which is equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the storm reached Taitung County on the afternoon of October 31.
Kong-re’s maximum wind field – the distance from its center to the strongest winds – was measured at 320 kilometers (about 200 miles) on Wednesday evening, making it the largest typhoon to hit Taiwan since Typhoon Herb in 1996. This information was given by Chang Chun-Yao, forecaster of the island’s Central Weather Administration (CWA).
According to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC), at least two people died and more than 500 were injured as a result of the typhoon. A 56-year-old woman died after being hit by a falling tree while traveling by car in the central district of Nantou. Meanwhile, a 48-year-old man died in the capital Taipei on Thursday night when an electric pole fell on him due to the storm.
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, local authorities ordered the temporary closure of offices and schools, while Taiwan suspended trading on its stock market. Taiwan is generally able to withstand major typhoons, but remote villages in mountainous areas remain at risk of landslides. Taiwan’s military had more than 34,000 troops on standby to assist in rescue efforts, and on October 30, more than 8,600 people were evacuated from high-risk areas in advance.
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Taiwan, more than 500 flights, including 300 international trips, were canceled due to the storm and all ferry services to Taiwan’s outlying islands were also suspended. According to rail operators, high-speed rail services are running on only a few routes, while Taipei Metro said it has suspended services on open sections.
Tag: taiwan news
first published : November 2, 2024, 9:35 pm IST
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