Typhoon Koinu thunders towards Taiwan, throws life out of gear

On Wednesday, typhoon Koinu made its way into southern Taiwan, bringing with it strong gusts and rain that forced the cancellation of more than 100 flights as well as the closure of businesses and educational institutions. According to Tropical Storm Risk, Koinu is predicted to make landfall on Taiwan’s southeast coast on Thursday morning close to the city of Taitung as a category three typhoon before weakening as it reaches the island’s southern point and enters the Taiwan Strait. However, the typhoon will also have an impact on Kaohsiung, a significant southern port city. The greatest rain will fall along mountainous and sparsely populated sections of Pingtung county in the south and the east coast counties of Taitung and Hualien. When the waves started to get bigger in Taitung, fishermen secured their boats in the harbour. “We are worried that the rain and wind will be very strong when the typhoon makes landfall, so from our end we will strengthen typhoon prevention, and we hope local residents stay alert and be careful,” said Chen Chia-chen from Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, speaking in Taitung. Both Kaohsiung and Tainan, a nearby city, announced that they will call off work and school starting at 6 p.m. (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday and continuing all day on Thursday. Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, experienced squally rain showers, although no major damage was anticipated. Schools and offices remained open as usual. According to the transport ministry, 87 domestic flights and 25 international flights were cancelled by Taiwanese carriers. The typhoon will move from Taiwan to southern China’s Guangdong and Fujian provinces, then on to Hong Kong, where it is forecast to continue to weaken until it becomes a tropical storm. Koinu will approach the financial centre on Wednesday afternoon within 800 km (500 miles), according to Hong Kong’s Weather Observatory. The observatory will send out the weakest storm signal, on Wednesday night. (With agency inputs)