At least 11 injured as Trami trounces
The China Post with CNA
August 22, 2013, 12:04 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Eleven people had been reported injured as of press time yesterday after Tropical Storm Tarim struck the island, according to the Central Emergency Operation Center.
Five people were hurt after a tent erected for Ghost Festival celebrations blew down in the heavy rain. Those inside said they could see the tent poles swaying in the wind just moments before the tent fell.
Other injuries included two young boys who were hit by electricity wires blown loose by the strong winds, and a woman who slipped in the rain.
Regular Work, School for Most of Taiwan
Schools and offices will open as usual today in Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung as Tropical Storm Trami moves away from Northern Taiwan, local governments announced yesterday.
The counties of Yilan in the northeast and Changhua in Central Taiwan will resume normal hours, as well.
The outlying county of Lienchiang, also called Matsu, has announced no school or work for Thursday as the storm draws near.
Other counties and cities have announced partial cancellations.
Work and school have been called off for the following areas.
In Northern Taiwan: Fuxing Township in Taoyuan County; Jianshi and Wufeng Townships in Hsinchu County; Nanzhuang, Shitan, and Taian Townships in Miaoli County.
In Central Taiwan: Heping District in Taichung; Renai and Xinyi Townships in Nantou County
In Southern Taiwan: Alishan Township in Chiayi County; Namaxia District in Kaohsiung.
As of 9 p.m., Pingtung County in the south, Hualien County in the east and the outlying Kinmen County had not yet made official announcements.
Flight Disruptions
A total of 225 international and domestic flights were disrupted yesterday due to the influence of Trami, according to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA).
As of 11 a.m., 147 international flights and 78 domestic flights had been canceled, while a further seven flight had been delayed, the CAA said.
The nation's largest carrier, China Airlines, said all its flights between Taoyuan and Hong Kong would be canceled after 6 p.m.
Eva Airways and UNI Air said all their international flights would remain normal for Thursday, while several domestic UNI Air flights would be canceled.
As of 3 p.m., Trami was centered 120 km east northeast of Taipei, moving in a westerly direction at 25 kph, the weather bureau said.
It was packing sustained winds of 108 kph, with gusts reaching 137 kph.
Heavy Rain Forecast
Trami will unleash torrential rains across Taiwan, with most parts of the country expecting accumulated rain of more than 350 mm between noon Wednesday and noon Thursday, the Central Weather Bureau said yesterday.
As of 11 a.m., Trami was centered 210 kilometers east of Taipei, moving west at a speed of 25 km per hour, the weather bureau said.
It was packing sustainable winds of 108 kph, with gusts reaching 137 kph. Though the storm's center was expected to skirt Taiwan's northern coast without making landfall, heavy rainfall was still expected around the island, with the heaviest precipitation forecast for Western Taiwan and mountainous areas in Northeastern Taiwan. The bureau warned residents in Taiwan's coastal areas to remain on the alert for the possibility of flooding because the island is currently experiencing a “spring tide,” when high tides are at their maximum.
Even before it approached Taiwan's shores, the storm's periphery had already swamped parts of Taiwan late Tuesday and early Wednesday, with accumulated precipitation in Taichung's Wuqi District reaching 141 mm over the 24 hours up to 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The bureau expected the storm's effect on Taiwan to peak between noon and midnight Wednesday.
Over 200 Evacuated in Miaoli
After Trami brought heavy rainfall to Taiwan's western coast, Miaoli included, the county's Nanzhuang Township evacuated over 200 people as it was victim to the heaviest rainfall in the area.
The township's rainfall had reached 234 millimeters by yesterday evening, forcing the township office to evacuate four villagers and ordered for excavators to stay around mountain slopes where landslides are prone to happen, in preventing a blockage after the storm ended.
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