Typhoon Haikui prompts Taiwan to evacuate thousands and cancel flights

Commuters wait at the intersection in heavy rain as Typhoon Haikui approaches the country, in Taipei, Taiwan. PA

Domestic flights were canceled and nearly 3,000 people were evacuated, as Taiwan braced for the landfall of Typhoon Haikui on Sunday, which is expected to bring torrential rains and strong winds to southern and eastern parts of the country. island.

Haikui is expected to make landfall in the hilly and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan on Sunday afternoon. Eastern and southern counties and cities canceled classes and announced a day off for employees.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen told a meeting of disaster management authorities that it would be the first storm to make landfall on the island and overtake its central mountain range in four years.

People should avoid going out and avoiding climbing mountains, going to the seaside, fishing or participating in water sports, according to a statement from Tsai’s office.

Haikui is a significantly smaller storm than Typhoon Saola, which made landfall in Hong Kong and southern China’s Guangdong province on Saturday. According to Tropical Storm Risk, Haikui is only expected to become a Category 1 or 2 typhoon when it makes landfall in Taiwan.

According to the Taiwanese government, 2,868 people have already been evacuated, mainly in the south and east.

Taiwan’s two main national airlines, UNI Air and Mandarin, canceled all flights on Sunday, as did ferry services to other islands.

International flights were less disrupted, with just 37 canceled on Sunday, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said.

The army has mobilized troops and equipment to help with flood relief and evacuation efforts.