Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
Taiwan encountered severe weather conditions on Wednesday as Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall, unleashing torrential rains and significant flooding in the eastern parts of the island. Authorities have evacuated upwards of 8,300 individuals to safer areas, especially in Yilan and Hualien counties, where floodwater levels reached neck-high in some locations.
The typhoon has considerably weakened after its passage through the Philippines, where it led to the loss of 27 lives, but still caused substantial disruption. Many businesses and schools were shuttered across southern Taiwan, and reports confirm at least 51 injuries.
Footage from severely impacted regions, including Yilan County, shows inundated streets and submerged homes. In Suao town, fisherman Hung Chun-yi recounted how quickly the floodwaters surged, reaching 60 cm on his home’s first floor. “The rain was overwhelming, too rapid for the drainage systems to handle,” he noted.
Local fire departments took charge of the evacuation efforts, concentrating on areas where monsoon rains combined with the typhoon's moisture intensified flooding. Dongshan in Yilan area accumulated an astonishing 794 mm of rain on Tuesday, underscoring the severity of the situation.
While eastern Taiwan faces these dire circumstances, northern regions, including Hsinchu—home to major tech company TSMC—remain largely unaffected by Fung-wong's trajectory.
Meteorologists indicate that Fung-wong will continue towards the southern tip of Taiwan before moving out into the Pacific Ocean, losing strength along the way. This incident follows closely after another typhoon in September, which resulted in deadly floods in Hualien, highlighting Taiwan's susceptibility to late-season tropical storms.
Authorities are persistently advising residents in at-risk areas to remain vigilant and adhere to safety measures as cleanup and rescue operations carry on in the most impacted locations.
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