Typhoon Haikui strikes Taiwan, leaving thousands powerless

author: FutureCar Staff    

Typhoon Haikui made landfall in Taiwan on Sunday, causing widespread power outages and strong winds. The storm packed wind gusts of up to 111 mph, leaving tens of thousands of residents and businesses without power. Taiwan's state-owned electric utility, TaiPower, reported that nearly 36,000 customers remained without power as night fell. Haikui made landfall at 3:40 p.m. in Taitung, becoming the first tropical cyclone to hit Taiwan in four years.

Heavy rain advisories were issued for Taitung County and several surrounding counties until Monday afternoon. The forecast for Pingtung County, a mountainous region, predicted up to 2 feet of rain in the coming days. The official Central News Agency reported downed trees, utility poles, landslides, and rockfalls in southern Taiwan. Earlier, around 7,000 residents were evacuated from high-risk areas in the region.

After affecting Taiwan, Typhoon Haikui was heading towards mainland China, specifically Fujian and Guangdong provinces. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters issued alerts for gale-force winds and torrential downpours in these areas. In Hong Kong, weather officials announced a "No. 1" warning as Haikui moved towards eastern Guangdong and southern Fujian provinces. The officials warned the public to stay updated on the latest weather forecast as the typhoon's movement and intensity remained uncertain.

It is worth noting that Haikui is approaching southern China while the region is still recovering from the impact of Super Typhoon Saola. Saola, the ninth typhoon this year, made landfall in Guangdong's Zhuhai City on Saturday afternoon. The storm caused injuries to more than 50 people and forced over 500 people to evacuate their homes and seek shelter. Hong Kong, Macao, and Shenzhen experienced flooding and significant damage due to Saola, which was considered the most powerful storm to hit Hong Kong in five years.

FutureCar Staff