Taiwan Prepares for Typhoon Hungwon, Evacuates Thousands
TAIPEI — On Tuesday, Taiwan took action by issuing a land warning and evacuating over 3,000 residents in anticipation of Typhoon Hungwon. The storm is forecasted to bring significant rainfall to the eastern mountainous regions, which recently experienced another typhoon’s impact.
Although Hungwon has weakened, it’s expected to hit the island’s southwest coast, particularly near the key port city of Kaohsiung, on Wednesday. This storm previously caused 18 fatalities as it traversed the Philippines with greater intensity.
“Even if Feng Wong is a weakened typhoon now, we must remain vigilant,” Mayor Chen Zhimei emphasized during a press briefing.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-de encouraged the public via Facebook to steer clear of mountains, beaches, and other hazardous locations.
In terms of travel disruptions, the Ministry of Transport reported that 66 flights, primarily domestic routes, were canceled on Tuesday.
The government has mandated the evacuation of Guangfu town, identified as a site of severe flooding, facilitating the relocation of 3,337 individuals from four different prefectures and cities to safer areas.
Schools and offices in Hualien City and neighboring Yilan County were also shut down on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
Interestingly, the storm is not expected to severely affect Hsinchu, where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world’s leading contract chipmaker, is located.
Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro reported in a news conference that the majority of the casualties in the Philippines were linked to landslides in the northern mountainous Cordillera region, with two individuals missing and 28 injured.
