Taiwan has initiated large-scale evacuations and precautionary measures as Tropical Storm Fung-wong approaches, following its destructive path through the Philippines. Over 3,000 residents from vulnerable regions have been relocated, and schools and offices in Hualien and Yilan counties were closed on Tuesday. The storm, which has already claimed at least 18 lives and displaced more than 1.4 million people in the Philippines, is expected to make landfall near Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s southwestern port city, by Wednesday afternoon or evening. Taiwan’s weather agency reported that Fung-wong, though weakening, still carries maximum sustained winds of 108 kph (67 mph) and gusts of 137 kph (85 mph). The storm is projected to sweep across the island and exit via its northeastern side by early Thursday. Authorities have issued land warnings for southern and southwestern areas, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Tainan, and Taitung. Meanwhile, China has activated an emergency typhoon response for its southeastern provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hainan. The Philippines continues to grapple with the aftermath, with over a million people displaced and thousands sheltering in evacuation centers. The storm’s impact underscores the region’s vulnerability to severe weather events, with both Taiwan and the Philippines frequently facing typhoons annually.
Taiwan evacuates thousands ahead of tropical storm Fung-wong after deaths in the Philippines
