The storm circle of ‘Fung-wong,’ which has weakened into a tropical storm, touched land in the Hengchun Peninsula in the early morning of the 12th, and is expected to make landfall in southern Taiwan from evening to night. It may weaken further into a tropical depression before or after landfall, and all typhoon warnings in Taiwan could be lifted as early as late tonight.
As of 9:00 p.m. on the 11th, a total of 158 disaster incidents were reported across Taiwan, including flooding, fallen trees, and damage to civil infrastructure, resulting in 33 injuries. Work and classes were suspended in many parts of central and southern Taiwan on Wednesday. Some international flights were cancelled or delayed that day, and all domestic flights were cancelled.
According to the Central Weather Administration at 8:00 a.m., the storm circle of Fung-wong had slightly shrunk over the past three hours, with its center located 170 kilometers southwest by west off Cape Eluanbi, moving northeast by east, threatening Yunlin, Nantou, Hualien-Taitung area, Hengchun Peninsula, and Penghu.
Due to Fung-wong and its peripheral circulation, Taiwan may experience brief heavy rainfall on Wednesday. Intense torrential rain has already hit Yilan County and the Keelung North Coast; local heavy rain or torrential rain is expected in Taipei, Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, and Penghu. Although Fung-wong will move away on the 13th, the strengthened northeast monsoon means localized heavy rain is still possible north of Taoyuan, and brief showers are expected in Zhunan, eastern areas, and the Hengchun Peninsula.
On Wednesday, China Airlines announced the cancellation of flights between Kaohsiung and Tokyo, Bangkok, Osaka, Okinawa, and Hong Kong, as well as between Taipei and Hong Kong. The Kaohsiung-Chongqing flight will depart earlier than scheduled; arrivals from Chongqing, Manila, Kumamoto, Incheon, Osaka, and Tokyo to Kaohsiung are all delayed. Cathay Pacific also cancelled four round-trip flights between Hong Kong and Kaohsiung. EVA Air maintained normal operations on flights from Kaohsiung to Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, and Hong Kong, but the Tokyo-to-Kaohsiung flight will be delayed, and all other flights are cancelled.
Flights at Songshan and Taoyuan airports remain normal. As for ferries, cross-strait Mini Three Links passenger ferries to and from Xiamen and Quanzhou continue to be suspended on Wednesday. The Taiwan (Keelung) to Matsu ferry, inter-island ferries, and the ‘Two Ma’ (Mawei Port-Matsu) Mini Three Links are all suspended as well. The Taiwan High Speed Rail adjusted schedules on Wednesday, with three trains in each direction per hour; Taiwan Railway’s eastern and western main lines partly suspended operations, and Nanhui and Pingxi lines were fully suspended.
Due to the effects of Fung-wong, work and classes were suspended for the entire day on Wednesday in Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Yilan, and Penghu, while in Hualien, only the townships of Guangfu, Wanrong, and Fenglin were affected. In Hualien County, the rising level of the Mataian Creek broke through a section of the embankment lacking protective measures, causing floodwaters and sand to pour into Mingli Village of Wanrong Township, even washing away vehicles. Fortunately, residents had already been evacuated.