More than 40 people injured as Typhoon Haikui sweeps across Taiwan
Typhoon Haikui moved across Taiwan on Sunday, unleashing torrential downpours, accelerating winds and plunging thousands of households into darkness after the first big storm to hit the island directly in four years made landfall.
More than 7,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas, while hundreds of flights were cancelled and businesses closed in preparation for the storm.
Authorities reported that more than 40 people were injured in the storm, including at least two in the mountainous Hualien county when a falling tree hit a car.
Taiwan’s central weather bureau confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the typhoon made landfall at 3.40pm local time (8.40am GMT) in coastal Taitung, a mountainous county in lesser-populated eastern Taiwan.
Residents hunkered down indoors in the dark, staying away from windows as strong gusts of wind sent fallen trees and dislodged water tanks flying in the air, according to an AFP reporter.
“I think this time it is serious,” said Chang Jhi-ming, a 58-year-old retired mechanic in Taitung.
“This is just beginning. The wind is just coming in and you can see trees toppling already.”
Some marvelled at the sight of the huge waves around the harbour before Haikui made landfall.
“It’s been a while since any typhoon landed here. Only today can you see such waves. A rare sight,” said Chen Hsin-kuang, 62.
More than 119,000 households lost power throughout the day as the typhoon swept through the southern and eastern regions, though more than half had it restored by nightfall.
By 9pm Haikui had weakened to “moderate intensity” and was near Taiwan’s south-western city of Kaohsiung, carrying sustained winds of about 126km/h (78mph), a central weather bureau forecaster said in a briefing.
“Heavy rains are expected in the mountains in Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung tonight,” said the forecaster.
The last big storm to hit Taiwan was Typhoon Bailu in 2019, which killed one person.
Haikui, the first storm in four years to cross the island’s central mountain range, had the potential to wreak havoc by causing landslides and rockfalls on surrounding communities.
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, said: “I remind the people to make preparations for the typhoon and watch out for your safety. Avoid going out or any dangerous activities.”
A fishing harbour in Yilan county on the north-eastern coast saw towering waves slam against the shore, as residents huddled under umbrellas to shield themselves from unrelenting sheets of rainfall.
Some braved the downpour to shop at a nighttime market that had remained open despite the authorities’ warning of possible flash floods.
In Taitung, ripped-up trees already littered the streets before Haikui landed, while street signs swayed under the strong winds and a restaurant owner tied down his sign advertising seafood.
“I almost forgot what it’s like to be in a typhoon. What big winds,” said Huang Jun-tong, a restaurant owner, adding that when he woke up he immediately went to his shop to make sure everything was protected.
“Yesterday, it was so calm that we did not feel like a typhoon was coming. Today, we feel it,” he said.
The military had mobilised soldiers and equipment, such as amphibious vehicles and inflatable rubber boats, around the parts of Taiwan where Haikui was expected to have the heaviest impact.
Haikui was expected to be less severe than Typhoon Saola, which bypassed Taiwan but triggered the highest threat level in nearby Hong Kong and southern China before it weakened into a tropical storm by Saturday.