Typhoon Koinu skirted past southern Taiwan on Thursday, causing injuries to 190 individuals and inflicting some damage but mercifully, no fatalities. The tempest unleashed torrential rains and fierce winds, compelling millions in various cities to take a break from work and school activities.
Koinu, whose name translates to "puppy" in Japanese, made landfall on Taiwan's Hengchun peninsula as a formidable category-four typhoon, boasting winds reaching up to 252 kph (156 mph). As it traversed into the Taiwan Strait and headed towards China's Guangdong province, it gradually weakened, as reported by Tropical Storm Risk.
The most copious rainfall was observed in the mountainous and less densely populated regions of Pingtung county in the south, along with the eastern coastal counties of Taitung and Hualien. However, the typhoon's impact extended to the significant southern port city of Kaohsiung.
In response to the impending storm, most cities and counties granted a day off for work and school. However, Taiwan's capital, Taipei, where financial markets are situated, remained unaffected and continued to operate normally. Renowned chipmaker TSMC also confirmed that its factories were functioning without disruptions.
Late on Thursday morning, the typhoon entered the Taiwan Strait, with heavy rainfall anticipated to persist into Friday, predominantly affecting the island's southern and eastern regions.
Taiwan's fire department reported 190 injuries but fortunately no fatalities, along with some structural damage. Meanwhile, Orchid Island, located off Taitung's coast in the Pacific Ocean and inhabited by around 5,000 residents, experienced more extensive damage. Images circulating on social media revealed cars being blown off roads and fishing boats sinking in a harbor.
Taiwan's two primary domestic airlines, UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines, canceled the majority of their flights scheduled for Thursday, while ferry services to outlying islands were also suspended. The transport ministry disclosed that a total of 46 international flights were canceled, but the high-speed rail system connecting northern and southern Taiwan remained unaffected.
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