Typhoon Haikui, the first significant typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in four years, unleashed its fury on eastern Taiwan. With torrential rains and forceful winds, it disrupted the lives of thousands, plunging numerous households into darkness. As of Sunday afternoon, the typhoon made landfall in the coastal region of Taitung, a lesser-populated, mountainous area of Taiwan, according to the Central Weather Bureau.
To mitigate potential damage, nearly 4,000 individuals were evacuated from areas identified as high-risk. The impending storm also led to hundreds of flight cancellations and business closures as the nation braced for impact. One resident, retired mechanic Chang Jhi-ming, illustrated the gravity of the situation from Taitung, commenting, “This is just beginning; the wind is just coming in, and you can see trees toppling already.”
Read: Typhoon Haikui Threatens Taiwan: Evacuations and Precautions Underway
Aftermath and Advisory Warnings
Following its landfall, Typhoon Haikui escalated, showcasing sustained winds of around 140 km per hour by Sunday evening. The weather bureau anticipates that the brunt of the storm, with intensified rain and winds, will be felt in the hours following its arrival. They project that the typhoon will progress into the Taiwan Strait by Monday evening, leaving a trail of challenges in its wake.
So far, the typhoon has caused power outages in over 21,000 households across the island, with approximately 9,000 still grappling with blackouts by the time Haikui reached Taitung. This storm marks the most severe weather event since Typhoon Bailu in 2019, which resulted in one fatality. In anticipation of Haikui’s arrival, street signs swayed under strong winds and debris, including fallen trees and signs, began accumulating on the streets of Taitung.
