Typhoon Haikui weakens, moves away from Taiwan after causing heavy rains

Beijing, Sep 4 (EFE).- Typhoon Haikui, which had been lashing southern Taiwan with heavy rains for many hours, had weakened into a tropical storm by Monday after passing through the island’s mountains and was now headed further west, the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau informed.

At 11 am on Monday, the storm’s center was situated around 60 kilometers southwest of the Penghu archipelago, situated west of Taiwan, as it moved northwestward at a speed of 10 kms per hour, according to the Bureau.

Carrying sustained winds of 110 kph and gusts of up to 126 kph, the storm is expected to move towards China’s southeastern Fujian province by Tuesday morning.

Haikui had hit Taiwan on Sunday, losing speed as it crossed the island and making landfall twice.

Meteorologist Hsieh Pei-yun told state news agency CNA that Haikui had weakened after crossing Taiwan’s mountains, and was now classified as a tropical storm.

However, the land and maritime weather alerts remain in place on Monday, CNA said.

Earlier, authorities had evacuated more than 3,000 people from the worst affected areas, and also suspended operations on at least three train lines on the island.

Meanwhile, more than 74,000 houses were left without power due to the heavy rains, although supply had been restored in around 46,000 by Sunday night, according to the news agency.

The interior ministry on Sunday announced the cancellation of 246 flights to and from Taiwanese airports.

Parts of southern Taiwan had been put on alert for “extremely heavy or torrential rains” of up to 700 millimeters.

The weather bureau highlighted that Haikui was the first major storm to hit Taiwan since Typhoon Bailu in August 2019. EFE

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