Key Takeaways
- Nearly 190 people injured as typhoon Koinu hit Taiwan.
- More than 60,000 houses and businesses are still without electricity.
- Historic wind gusts of 95 m/s were recorded on Orchid Island.
Taipei: At least 190 people were injured by typhoon Koinu in Taiwan.
Over 60,000 houses and commercial buildings remain without power, according to the Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan.
Typhoon Koinu reached the coast of Pingtung County in the south of the island at about 8:20 local time (00:20 GMT), when the pressure in the typhoon’s eye was estimated at 945 hPa (hectopascals), the maximum wind speed reached up to 48 meters per second (106.8 miles per hour). The wind destroyed commercial banners, wires, city constructions and knocked down the trees.
On Wednesday, a historically strongest ever wind of 95 meters per second (212 miles per hour) was registered in the south-eastern coast of the island, on Lan Yu island (Orchid Island).
According to Taiwan Power, the typhoon has left over 174,500 houses and commercial buildings without electric energy. Currently, the electric energy supply is restored in most typhoon-hit areas, however, over 60,000 households are still without power.
Due to the disaster, local airports have canceled 42 international flights and 182 local ones. Ferry service has also been suspended.
The typhoon will continue to impact the weather within the island until Friday morning. The meteorological agency earlier warned about possible rainfall in the counties of Pingtung, Taitung and Hualien as well as in mountainous areas of Taipei
