Thousands of Taiwanese residents have been evacuated as Tropical Storm Fung-Wong inches closer to the island's eastern coast. The storm, which downgraded from a super typhoon, is now forecasted to make landfall on Wednesday night, bringing with it heavy rain and powerful gusts.
The slow-moving system has prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders for nearly 3,300 people in Hualien County, an area prone to landslides and earthquakes. The region has already experienced significant flooding in recent days, with parts of the county receiving over 780 mm (30 inches) of rainfall as of Tuesday evening.
Heavy rain advisories remain in effect across southern and eastern Taiwan until Thursday morning, when Fung-Wong is expected to move out to sea. Schools and workplaces have been shuttered in anticipation of the storm's arrival, while all domestic flights have been cancelled.
Residents are bracing for the worst, recalling a devastating typhoon that struck Hualien County last September. The then 60 million tonnes of water and debris from the overflowing barrier lake swept through the area, claiming at least 19 lives.
Fung-Wong has brought with it powerful winds, measuring up to 101km/h (63mph), as well as gusts of wind that are expected to make landfall on Wednesday night. Heavy rain advisories remain in effect across Taiwan until Thursday morning, when the storm is forecasted to move out to sea.
The situation is being closely monitored by Taiwan's Central Weather Administration and Forestry Bureau, which have issued warnings and taken measures to mitigate the impact of Fung-Wong.
The slow-moving system has prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders for nearly 3,300 people in Hualien County, an area prone to landslides and earthquakes. The region has already experienced significant flooding in recent days, with parts of the county receiving over 780 mm (30 inches) of rainfall as of Tuesday evening.
Heavy rain advisories remain in effect across southern and eastern Taiwan until Thursday morning, when Fung-Wong is expected to move out to sea. Schools and workplaces have been shuttered in anticipation of the storm's arrival, while all domestic flights have been cancelled.
Residents are bracing for the worst, recalling a devastating typhoon that struck Hualien County last September. The then 60 million tonnes of water and debris from the overflowing barrier lake swept through the area, claiming at least 19 lives.
Fung-Wong has brought with it powerful winds, measuring up to 101km/h (63mph), as well as gusts of wind that are expected to make landfall on Wednesday night. Heavy rain advisories remain in effect across Taiwan until Thursday morning, when the storm is forecasted to move out to sea.
The situation is being closely monitored by Taiwan's Central Weather Administration and Forestry Bureau, which have issued warnings and taken measures to mitigate the impact of Fung-Wong.
! I feel for those in Hualien County, been through some crazy weather there before and it's super scary. Remember when that typhoon hit last year? 19 lives lost, can you even imagine?! 
And now this storm is bringing heavy rain and powerful gusts... like, what even is the point of having a barrier lake if it's just gonna break 
. Authorities gotta do better, ya know? 
At least the schools are closed and flights are cancelled, that's some good prep work I guess. Fingers crossed for everyone in Taiwan! 
. I mean, 3,300 people in one county? It's crazy! And it's not just the number, but also the fact that they're already dealing with flooding and landslides from previous days. I can only imagine how scary it must be to live in an area prone to natural disasters 
. It's like, we know there's a storm coming, but what about the kids who need to do their homework or the workers who need to earn a living? I feel bad for them 
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Like, isn't it always a given that tropical storms are going to hit Taiwan? I mean, who doesn't love a good excuse for an extended weekend at home, right? 
At least the authorities are being proactive and evacuating people from high-risk areas. Fingers crossed that everyone makes it out safely... again 
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They should definitely prioritize their safety above all else. Hopefully, the authorities are doing everything they can to help and support those who need it most 
. I mean, I've seen some of those Taiwanese dramas where the whole town gets flooded in an hour and everyone's all like "oh no, we gotta evacuate!" But is it really necessary here? Don't get me wrong, Fung-Wong does look pretty intense with those powerful gusts and heavy rain... but can't people just stay inside till it passes? 
I know some folks have already experienced flooding in Hualien County, so I guess they're taking no chances 
like they just threw all the info at us without any thought to how it looks 
hope everyone stays safe 
. all those people evacuated, it's crazy 
. wish all those people in hualien county a smooth ride out, fingers crossed!