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Thousands without power after Typhoon Haikui batters Taiwan

Monday, 04 September 2023 2:00 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 04 September 2023 2:57 AM ]

A collapsed canopy is seen at a parking lot as Typhoon Haikui approaches, in Hualien, Taiwan, on September 3, 2023. (via Reuters)

Officials in Taiwan worked to restore power to more than 40,000 households after Typhoon Haikui barreled into the east and south of the island, forcing cities in the affected areas to close schools and businesses, and domestic airlines to cancel flights.

Haikui made landfall in the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan on Sunday afternoon, the first typhoon to directly hit Taiwan in four years. It then moved across the southern part of the island.

State-run utility Taipower said Haikui knocked out power for more than 160,000 households, but that less than 50,000 were still awaiting electricity to be restored as of late Sunday.

Counties and cities across southern, eastern and central Taiwan cancelled classes and declared a day off for workers on Monday. In capital city, Taipei, there were gusty rain showers.

Taiwan's fire department reported five injuries as a result of the typhoon but no deaths.

Taiwan's government said that more than 7,000 people had been evacuated, mainly in the south and east.

Typhoon pummels southern China after uprooting trees in Hong Kong

Typhoon Saola swept across southern China on Saturday after tearing down trees and smashing windows in Hong Kong.

Taiwan airlines cancelled most domestic flights on Monday, while ferry services to surrounding islands were also suspended.

There was less disruption to international flights, with only 15 cancelled, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said.

Haikui is much weaker than Typhoon Saola, which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Saturday.

As of Monday morning, Haikui had started to enter the Taiwan Strait and head towards China, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said. It will continue to bring heavy rain across Taiwan into the middle of the week.

China's national weather and ocean forecasters issued alerts early on Monday for Haikui, warning of strong winds and large waves around coastal provinces Fujian and Guangdong and told ships to take precaution, Chinese state media reported.

(Source: Reuters)

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