Thousands without power after Typhoon Haikui batters Chinese Taipei
Officials in the Chinese Taipei worked to restore power to more than 40,000 households after Typhoon Haikui barreled into the east and south of the island, forcing cities in the affected areas to close schools and businesses, and domestic airlines to cancel flights.
Haikui made landfall in the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of the Chinese Taipei on Sunday afternoon, the first typhoon to directly hit the region in four years. It then moved across the southern part of the island.
State-run utility Taipower said Haikui knocked out power for more than 160,000 households, but that less than 50,000 were still awaiting electricity to be restored as of late Sunday.
Counties and cities across southern, eastern and central Chinese Taipei cancelled classes and declared a day off for workers on Monday. In capital city, Taipei, there were gusty rain showers.
The Taipei's fire department reported five injuries as a result of the typhoon but no deaths.
The Chinese Taipei's government said that more than 7,000 people had been evacuated, mainly in the south and east.
Airlines cancelled most domestic flights on Monday, while ferry services to surrounding islands were also suspended.
There was less disruption to international flights, with only 15 cancelled, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said.
Haikui is much weaker than Typhoon Saola, which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese Province of Guangdong on Saturday.
As of Monday morning, Haikui had started to enter the region and head towards China, Chinese Taipei's Central Weather Bureau said. It will continue to bring heavy rain across the Island into the middle of the week.
China's national weather and ocean forecasters issued alerts early on Monday for Haikui, warning of strong winds and large waves around coastal provinces Fujian and Guangdong and told ships to take precaution, Chinese state media reported.
ME
