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Nature and EnvironmentTaiwan

Taiwan: Typhoon Haikui makes second landfall

Published September 3, 2023last updated September 3, 2023

Typhoon Haikui initially appeared to move through Taiwan and out to sea before its surprise second landfall on Monday. It is now heading towards China.

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Typhoon Haikui in Taiwan
Over 7,000 were evacuated, hundreds of flights were canceled, and more than 217,000 households lost powerImage: I-HWA CHENG/AFP/Getty Images

Parts of Taiwan were grappling with floods, downed trees, and continued rainfall after Typhoon Haikui made a second landfall early on Monday. 

On Sunday, coastal Taitung bore the brunt of the typhoon's initial impact. The typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm after its surprise second landfall in southwestern Kaohsiung.

Haikui initially appeared to move through the island and out to sea before the second landfall.

Thousands evacuated

Over 7,000 were evacuated, hundreds of flights were canceled, and more than 217,000 households lost power. By Monday, 58,000 homes were still without electricity. There were no reports of any deaths.

Local reports highlighted significant flooding in Kaohsiung, and nearly 80 individuals suffered minor injuries during the storm.

Schools and businesses in 14 cities remained closed due to the heavy rain.

Typhoon Haikui heads for Taiwan

President urges caution 

Typhoon Haikui brought torrential rain and strong winds to eastern Taiwan on Sunday becoming the first major storm to hit the island directly in four years.

On Sunday,President Tsai Ing-wen asked people to practice caution as Haikui "will be the first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan in four years." 

She asked people to avoid going out and not to go up the mountains, to refrain from going towards the coast, fishing or engaging in water sports.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen looks ahead
Taiwan's president asked people to maintain caution as the country braces for HaikuiImage: CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS/REUTERS

Taiwan has also mobilized its soldiers and other equipment like amphibious vehicles and inflatable rubber boats.

Haikui is now set to affect southern and northeastern regions.

Haikui considered a weaker storm than Saola

According to the Tropical Storm Risk tracker, Typhoon Haikui was expected to be a category 1 or 2 typhoon when it hit Taiwan.

It is considered to be a much weaker storm in comparison to Typhoon Saola which hit Hong Kong and southern China on Saturday.

By Monday morning, China's national weather and ocean forecasters issued alerts for Haikui as it moved into the Taiwan Strait, heading towards China.

Taiwan last experienced a storm in 2019 called Typhoon Bailu which claimed one life.

ss, rm, ns/sms (Reuters, AFP)