Typhoon Haikui hit much of southern Taiwan. The island was paralyzed on Sunday. Residents were asked to stay at home. All transport has been suspended (air transport, rail, ferry, etc.)
Wind gusts of 200 km/h
The storm made landfall in Taitung County on the eastern Pacific coast around 3 p.m. Sunday, bringing sustained winds of 150 km/h and gusts of 200 km/h.
Winds and driving rain forced open unsecured doors, uprooted trees and caused flooding in some low-lying areas.
Evacuation of residents
As of Sunday evening, nearly 4,000 people had been evacuated from exposed mountain communities. There was a high risk of landslides and flooding, according to the Interior Ministry. Families brought mattresses and other necessities to school gymnasiums and public meeting rooms, where they received food and drinks.
About 75,000 homes temporarily lost power in Taitung and Hualien counties along the east coast, and a guesthouse collapsed on Green Island just off the coast, but none No injuries were reported.
Little significant damage
There appears to have been little serious damage and some stores have remained open, partly to get rid of locally grown fruit and vegetables.
Among the canceled events in Taiwan were a hot air balloon festival in the central Taichung region, several outdoor concerts, arts events and a baseball game. National parks and dangerous roads in the island’s mountainous center were also closed.
The typhoon heads towards mainland China
Typhoon Haikui is expected to continue towards China after crossing Taiwan. Authorities in the Chinese city of Shantou in Guangdong province have advised residents to take precautions.
Haikui arrived as Typhoon Saola continued to weaken while swirling along China’s coast, where 900,000 people and 80,000 fishing boats had been brought to safety. Most of Hong Kong and parts of the coastal mainland have suspended business, transportation and classes.
Hundreds of passengers stranded in Hong Kong
Due to Typhoon Saola, workers in several Chinese cities stayed home. Hong Kong’s stock market was suspended and hundreds of people were left stranded at the airport after around 460 flights in the main hub were canceled.
Macau casino shutdown
The cross-border bridge connecting Hong Kong, gaming hub Macau and manufacturing hub Zhuhai was closed at one point, with Macau leader Ho Iat Seng ordering casino operations to halt.
