離開
進入《TAIPEI TIMES》Warning, cancelations issued for Bavi storm
A man secures a fishing boat in Keelung yesterday as Typhoon Bavi approaches. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo, EPA
BAVI: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan and others announced work and class closures today, with the storm expected to affect Taiwan through tomorrow
Staff writer, with CNA
The outer rain bands of Typhoon Bavi would begin affecting Taiwan today, with its storm circle reaching land this evening and its level-10 wind radius covering all of northern Taiwan by noon tomorrow, an official said yesterday.
The Central Weather Administration （CWA） issued a sea warning for the storm at 2:30pm yesterday, advising of heightened danger in eastern areas and in the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan.
Typhoon Bavi is expected to bring strong winds, extremely heavy rainfall and rough seas to Taiwan today and tomorrow, with the heaviest rain forecast for mountainous areas and sustained winds of up to 12 on the Beaufort scale in northern Taiwan and outlying islands, an official said.
As of 2pm yesterday, Bavi was about 920km east-southeast of Taiwan with a radius of about 380km. It was moving north-northeast at 20kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 184kph, CWA data showed.
The storm’s outer bands would begin affecting Taiwan today, CWA head Lu Kuo-chen （呂國臣） told a Cabinet news conference.
Rainfall is expected to intensify today and peak tomorrow, with short-duration rain in mountainous areas reaching 600mm to 900mm, while low-lying areas could also face prolonged heavy rain capable of triggering flooding and landslides, Lu said.
He also warned of waves exceeding 6m along parts of Taiwan’s northern, western and eastern coasts tomorrow, with even higher waves possible near the typhoon’s center.
Northern Taiwan, the northeast and outlying islands could face sustained winds exceeding 12 on the Beaufort scale, with stronger gusts possible in exposed areas, he said.
Powerful winds are forecast for tomorrow, when the typhoon is expected to be closest to Taiwan, with gusts of 14 on the Beaufort scale possible in coastal parts of northern areas, Lu said.
The typhoon is expected to weaken tomorrow night, although its effects are likely to be most strongly felt in Lienchiang County （Matsu） tomorrow and on Sunday, he said.
Premier Cho Jung-tai （卓榮泰） told a Cabinet meeting that he had told government agencies and local authorities to be on high alert today and tomorrow, when the typhoon is likely to have the greatest impact on Taiwan.
The government has convened disaster preparedness meetings with all 22 local governments and postponed the university Advanced Subjects Test originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday to Monday and Tuesday next week to ensure the safety of students and staff, Cho said.
The Ministry of National Defense has 28,922 troops on standby, while 24 helicopters, 3,355 military rescue vehicles and vessels, and 2,664 water pumps have been pre-positioned nationwide, National Fire Agency Deputy Director-General Feng Chun-yi （馮俊益） said.
Officials are closely monitoring a barrier lake in Hualien County’s Wanli River （萬里溪） basin, where heavy rainfall could trigger an overflow, Cho said.
Local authorities have been instructed to review evacuation plans, shelters and warning systems, he added.
Work and class are canceled today for Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu county and city, as well as Miaoli, Hualien, Lienchiang and Yilan counties, a government notice showed.
Taichung and Nantou County suspended classes and work from 6pm today and all of tomorrow, it said.
Work and classes would proceed as normal for Yunlin, Changhua, Pingtung, Taitung and Kinmen counties, the notice said.
Additional reporting by Jake Chung
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
