TAIWAN: On Wednesday, Typhoon Koinu marched towards southern Taiwan, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that forced the cancellation of more than 100 flights as well as the closure of businesses and institutions.
Koinu is expected to land on Taiwan’s southeast coast near Taitung as a category three typhoon on Thursday morning. The storm is expected to weaken as it enters the Taiwan Strait and reaches the island’s southern point.
The typhoon impacted Kaohsiung, a southern port city, with heavy rain in mountainous Pingtung, Taitung and Hualien counties. Taitung fishermen secured their boats in port, while waves around Taiwan’s east coast intensified.
In Taitung, Chen Chia-Chen of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council expressed concern that the rain and wind will be quite intense when the typhoon makes landfall. Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council added that it will intensify typhoon prevention, and urged local residents to stay vigilant and be careful.
Work and school in Kaohsiung and Tainan will be suspended from 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Taipei experienced squally rain showers, although no major damage was anticipated. Schools and offices remained open as usual.
According to the transport ministry, Taiwanese carriers cancelled 87 domestic and 25 international flights.
The typhoon will go across Taiwan before making its way to the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, followed by Hong Kong, where it is forecast to continue to weaken until it becomes a tropical storm.
According to Hong Kong’s Weather Observatory, the Koinu will approach the financial centre on Wednesday afternoon at a distance of 800 km (500 miles). On Wednesday night, the observatory will issue typhoon signal 1, the lowest possible.
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