Up to 340 kilometers per hour: at least 190 injured by typhoon “Koinu” on Taiwan To strengthen NATO troops: Romania sends soldiers to Kosovo

At least 190 people have been injured by Typhoon Koinu in Taiwan. Authorities in the East Asian island nation said Thursday that more than 200,000 households were also experiencing power outages. The tropical cyclone brought heavy rain and strong winds to the entire country with more than 23 million inhabitants. Almost the entire country was affected by “Koinu”.

The typhoon is the second to make landfall in Taiwan this year. The south in particular suffered serious consequences. On Lan Yu Island, also called Orchid Island, in the southeast, a weather station recorded wind gusts at a record speed of 340, as meteorologist Wu Wan-hua said at a news conference. The previous high there, in 1989, was just over 200 miles per hour.

Damage and flight cancellations

Public life largely came to a standstill: schools and offices remained closed on Thursday. According to the emergency center, local authorities have reported more than 1,700 accidents, such as falling trees, falling shop signs, road damage and mud flooding. More than 220 domestic and international flights were canceled due to the typhoon. Trains and ferries in the affected areas also did not run. Photos from local media showed downed power lines and collapsed houses.

In recent days, “Koinu” approached from the southeast over the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the storm area grew into a super typhoon with wind gusts of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The cyclone is now moving more slowly and is expected to drift further west towards southern China, according to meteorologists. However, in Taiwan, the weather authority still expects consequences on Friday.

China is preparing for “Koinu”.

In China, authorities have already warned about “Koinu”. Weather experts in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region had expected heavy rain this weekend. According to weather monitoring, the 14th typhoon of the Pacific season is likely to weaken further and move east of Guangdong province around the financial metropolis. Some long-distance train connections in Guangdong have been canceled in the coming days.

Moreover, the Lunar Festival holiday week ends in China. In the coming days, millions of people across the country will begin their journey home. The Central Meteorological Agency warned of rain and snowfall in the western provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai, where the Himalayan foothills extend, as well as in the southern provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou – all popular holiday areas. Travelers should prepare for traffic consequences. (sda/dpa)