Typhoon Tembin hits Taiwan: heavy rains, but limited damage
Taipei (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - Typhoon Tembin struck off the coast of Taiwan this morning,
uncovering roofs and knocking down trees in the most exposed areas in the
south. After
torrential rain, it headed offshore saving most of the territory. In
recent days, the authorities had prepared a contingency plan, which limited the
damage, the areas most at risk were evacuated earlier to ensure the safety of
the local population. After
the disaster caused by Typhoon Morakot in August 2009, which sowed death and
destruction (see AsiaNews 14/08/2009 Taipei,
Morakot death toll "over 500"), Taipei drew up preventive plans against typhoons and to protect the environment.
The
Hong Kong Observatory defined Tembin, which reached the southern county of
Pingtung at 5 am local time, as "intense". The
winds swept away trees and blew off the roofs of houses, with damage
concentrated in the coastal village of Tawu.
The
police blocked the roads in places considered critical and at risk of
landslides or floods. Access
was allowed only to emergency vehicles and people in emergency situations. At
least 5 thousand people were evacuated from the most dangerous areas, including
some mountain villages at risk of isolation in the event of landslides or
flooding.
Experts
do not exclude the possibility that Tembin could interact with Bolaven, another
storm approaching the coast of Taiwan at great speed. In
that case, the typhoon could return to the island tomorrow, bringing new and
heavy rains. The
Taipei government has however responded adequately to the emergency, reinforced
by the dramatic experience of three years ago.
In
August 2009, Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan with unexpected violence, the most
powerful in more than half a century. In a few hours it unleashed more than
three feet of rain on the island, flooding homes and roads, destroying bridges
and structures. It
left hundreds of dead and missing, and more than 25 thousand people homeless. The
flood water and mud destroyed 136,400 homes and inflicted damage to agriculture
to the tune of 14.4 billion Taiwan dollars (300 million euros).
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17/10/2019 16:07
14/10/2019 13:57
