TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan’s eastern and southern coasts experienced heavy rains and powerful winds as Typhoon Doksuri approached the island on Thursday.
In response to the imminent threat, two of Taiwan’s major cities took precautionary measures by shutting down schools and offices.
According to the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, Doksuri showed signs of weakening on Thursday, with sustained winds recorded at 155 kph and gusts reaching up to 190 kph. Although the typhoon’s centre is not expected to make landfall on Taiwan’s mainland, its outlying bands are anticipated to bring stronger winds and heavy rains later in the day, according to VoA.
Port City Kaohsiung and the ancient capital Tainan, both located in the southern region of the island, were among the areas directly affected by the approaching typhoon. Authorities in these cities decided to close offices and schools for the day to ensure the safety of residents. Similarly, Hualien and Taitung counties in the eastern part of Taiwan took similar measures and shuttered schools and offices in their respective areas.
The Central News Agency reported that Kaohsiung also carried out evacuations for approximately 300 residents residing in mountainous regions of the district to safeguard them from potential hazards.
The impact of Typhoon Doksuri was evident as tens of thousands of households in Kaohsiung and Tainan faced temporary power outages. However, efforts by the Taiwan Power Company promptly restored electricity to most of the affected areas by 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Meteorological authorities anticipate that Doksuri will travel through the Taiwan Strait during the day on Thursday and is expected to make landfall in China’s Fujian province on Friday. Residents in the affected regions are urged to remain vigilant and follow local authorities’ guidance to minimize potential risks and damage.
