TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — One person was killed and 73 injured by Typhoon Kong-rey on Thursday (Oct. 31), according to the Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC).
The strong typhoon made landfall in Taitung at 1:40 p.m. The fatality involved a woman in Renai Township, Nantou County, who was driving when a tree collapsed on her vehicle, per CNA.
The deceased was a 56-year-old female driver of a blue mini-truck in Ren'ai Township near Provincial Highway 14A in Nantou.
The CEOC reported that 13 counties and cities, including New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Taichung, implemented preventive evacuations. By 2 p.m., 9,658 people had been evacuated, with 91 shelters set up across 12 counties and cities, housing 1,822 people.
In addition, authorities have dispersed 1,751 people from coastal areas and advised 837 vehicles to move. Seventeen advisory notices were issued, 16 in central Taiwan and one in the south.
Regarding the grounding of the Chinese freighter Yu Zhou Qi Hang near Yehliu in New Taipei, the CEOC said that as of 7 a.m., the hull had partially submerged, but there were no oil leaks.
Throughout Taiwan, water supply outages affected 3,558 households, primarily in Hualien County, with 3,044 in Ruisui Township. Power outages affected over 207,000 households, with 96,000 still under repair.
As of 3:30 p.m., 75 red alerts for landslides were issued across four counties, including: Yilan County's Datong Township, Hualien County's Yuli Township, New Taipei's Xizhi District, and Hsinchu County's Jianshi Township.
In addition, 555 yellow alerts for landslides were in place across 11 counties, including Yilan County's Datong Township, Hualien County's Guangfu Township, Chiayi County's Alishan Township, Taichung's Heping District, and Taitung County's Taimali Township.
Three red alerts for large-scale landslides were issued in three counties: Hualien's Zhuoxi Township, New Taipei's Xizhi District, and Hsinchu's Jianshi Township, with 16 yellow alerts in seven counties, including Yilan's Datong Township.
The CEOC reported road closures due to mudflows on Provincial Highway 7A in Yilan's Datong Township, and landslides blocking Provincial Highway 8 at Bilu Creek in Nantou's Renai Township. There were also rockslides on Provincial Highway 8 between Jingheng and Swallow Grotto in Hualien, and mudflows on Provincial Highway 9 between Huidong and Chongde in Hualien, with sections closed until weather conditions improve.
The CEOC warned that Typhoon Koinu's rain bands still cover Taiwan, with the typhoon's eye over land. Strong winds and heavy rain are expected to continue across Taiwan through Friday (Nov. 1).
Regarding a missing Czech couple who lost contact while hiking in Taroko, the center reported that they are sheltering in a tent and have food supplies. Rescue efforts are being made.
