Thousands in Taiwan Evacuated Ahead of Typhoon Fung-Wong

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - More than 8,300 people have been evacuated from their homes in Taiwan ahead of the weakened typhoon Fung-wong's arrival in the southern part of the island on Wednesday.

As many as 51 people were reported injured in the heavy rains and flooding in Taiwan as of Wednesday morning, according to the National Fire Agency.

Authorities evacuated 8,326 people from their homes, the majority from eastern Hualien County, where a typhoon in September left 18 dead.

More than 1,000 homes were flooded in the harbor town of Suao, which received 648 millimeters (25 inches) of rain on Tuesday, a record for the month, weather officials said. 

Authorities have also issued orders to close schools and offices in the central and southern parts of Taiwan, including the coastal cities of Kaohsiung, Taichung and Tainan as well as Pingtung, Chiayi and Miaoli counties.

What Do We Know About Typhoon Fung-wong?

After wreaking havoc in the Philippines as a super typhoon on Sunday, Fung-wong — still holding tropical storm energy — brought record rains to the mountainous east coast and triggered floods with water level rising neck-high in places.

As of Wednesday morning, Fung-wong was about 140 kilometers (87 miles) southwest of Taiwan in the South China Sea, moving northeast at 16 kph (10 mph).

The typhoon is expected to continue losing its wind speed as it approaches Taiwan.

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