In anticipation of the impending landfall of Typhoon Koinu, Taiwan took precautionary measures in its southern region. This marks the second major storm to strike the island in just one month. As Taiwan typically experiences tropical storms from May to November, last month’s Typhoon Haikui was a rare occurrence, being the first to hit in four years. This storm unleashed heavy rains and strong winds, resulting in the evacuation of nearly 8,000 people from their homes.
Climate experts attribute the increasing difficulty in forecasting the paths of tropical storms, as well as their heightened intensity, to climate change. These factors contribute to more extensive rainfall and flash floods.
As Typhoon Koinu approaches on Thursday, over 100 international and domestic flights have been canceled, and ferry services to Taiwan’s outlying islands have been suspended. Furthermore, over 200 individuals in the southern part of the island have been evacuated due to the risk of landslides. Authorities have warned that coastal waves could reach heights of up to seven meters (22 feet).
To protect against the approaching typhoon, fishing boats have been crowded into a fishing harbor in Pingtung county. Additionally, primary schools in the agricultural region of Taitung allowed students to go home early.
Yang Pi-cheng, a 65-year-old resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “It’s barely a month, and we have another typhoon,” as she waited to pick up her grandchildren from Dawang Primary School. As a precautionary measure, a major coastal highway has been closed.
Currently, Typhoon Koinu is positioned just 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of the island and is moving at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour. It is expected to pass through the Hengchun Peninsula at the southern tip of Taiwan.
After impacting Taiwan, Typhoon Koinu is projected to head toward the eastern coast of China’s Guangdong province, according to the Hong Kong weather observatory. Notably, the Chinese territory experienced another typhoon last month, followed by the heaviest rainfall in 140 years. Consequently, Hong Kong will issue its lowest typhoon signal on Wednesday evening.
Source: AFP
