Typhoon Haikui makes landfall in Taiwan; thousands left without power

TAIPEI[TAIWAN]: Two people have sustained injuries and nearly 10,000 homes were left without power after Typhoon Haikui made landfall in Taiwan on Sunday, reported CNN.

According to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA), the two people who were injured as a result of the Typhoon were travelling in a van, when a tree fell on the vehicle. They suffered injuries but were conscious and taken to hospital, it added.

The storm made landfall in the southern coastal township of Donghe at about 3:40 p.m. local time, according to the weather bureau.


According to Taipower, the state electricity provider, more than 9,300 households in Taitung and Hualien counties have lost power as of 2 p.m. local time on Sunday, reported CNN.

Repairs are now underway. Taipei, Taiwan's capital, is currently receiving heavy rainfall.

Haikui is the first typhoon to directly impact Taiwan in four years and is likely to bring severe rain to the eastern provinces.

The state weather agency issued a warning that heavy rains might cause flash flooding and landslides in some areas of the country. The hilly Hualien county could receive more than 500 mm of rain, according to the forecast, reported CNN.

The typhoon was anticipated to make landfall near the southeastern city of Taitung on Sunday around 5 p.m. local time.

More than 2,800 residents from seven counties and municipalities have been evacuated as of 7 a.m. local time Sunday, according to the island's Ministry of the Interior. According to the relevant local governments, seven counties and cities in southern and eastern Taiwan have halted education and work for Sunday.

Another typhoon, Saola, made landfall in neighbouring Hong Kong after moving through the northeastern Philippines, causing at least 86 injuries recently, CNN reported.

Hong Kong authorities said in an update on Saturday that they had received over 1,500 reports of fallen trees, 21 incidences of flooding, and two reports of landslides. That typhoon has since fallen to a tropical storm, but it has caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or delayed.