Work and classes suspended, residents evacuated from vulnerable areas as Typhoon Gaemi approaches Taiwan

Stop work and class orders have been issued in many municipalities, including the nation’s capital Taipei, as Typhoon Gaemi approaches Taiwan’s east coast, bringing heavy rain and potentially destructive winds. Taipei City Government announced stop work orders for all agencies and schools for Wednesday, July 24, based on the weather forecast data issued by the Central Weather Administration. Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an said that Taipei City is expected to be within the storm radius of Beaufort-Scale level 7 winds

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Taiwan prepares for direct hit by Typhoon Gaemi

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration issued a land warning for Typhoon Gaemi at 11:30 am Tuesday, as the tropical storm intensified into a medium-strength typhoon while heading for a direct hit on the northern part of the island. According to the CWA alert, at 8:00 am this morning Typhoon Gaemi was located 470 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan’s most southerly point, Point Eluanbi. The system has a central air pressure of 965 hPa, and a storm radius of 200 kilometers packing sustained

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Woman’s body found in Taichung City canal: suspected to be foreign resident or visitor

Police in Taichung City are investigating the death of an unidentified woman of Caucasian appearance after a body was found in a stream today, July 17. Taichung City police received a report of a body seen floating in Xinzhuangzi Creek in Xitun District at around 10:30 am. Firefighters retrieved the body, which was estimated to have been in the water for up to two days. Investigators said that the woman was white, with a Caucasian appearance, and estimated to be

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Police officer killed, 5 people injured after suspected drug driver crash in New Taipei City

A police officer died, and five people were injured, after a driver suspected to be under the influence of drugs slammed head-on into two cars stopped at a red light in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District early this morning, July 13. According to reports, a police patrol car and a multi-taxi were stopped at a red light at the intersection of Zhengyi North Road and Longmen Road at when a silver Mercedes Benz slammed head-on into the police patrol car

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Vaccine injury program awards NT$1.5 million payout over death of elderly woman

Taiwan’s Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) awarded compensation of NT$1.5 million to the family of a 90-year-old woman who died 5 minutes after being injected with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. According to the VICP review information, the elderly woman was a long-term resident of a care institution with a medical history of multiple chronic diseases, including asthma, hypertensive heart disease, and diabetes. In July, 2022, the woman was injected with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Within five minutes of injection, the

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Fisheries Chairman shot dead in ambush outside his home in Tainan City

The chairman of the Tainan City Fisherman’s Association was declared dead in hospital after being shot 11 times as he left his home early this morning, Monday, July 8. According to reports, 53-year-old Lin Shijie (林士傑), a well-known and influential member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Tainan City, walked out of his front door at around 5:40 am to go hiking. As Lin walked towards a waiting car, a man dressed in jeans and a black hoodie quickly

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2 dead, 3 injured after scaffolding collapse at construction site in southern Taiwan

Two people died and three were injured after scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Yunlin County this afternoon, Saturday, July 6. According to reports, the scaffolding collapse occurred at the Formosa Advanced Technology Company (FATA/Fumao Technology TW:8131) in Henan Street, Doulio City at 4:12 pm. Yunlin County Fire Department dispatched six fire trucks, six ambulances, and 31 personnel to the scene of the accident. Firefighters found 15 people trapped under the collapsed scaffolding. A 40-year-old man was dead, having

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Taiwan’s fertility rate second lowest in the world: abortions are double the number of live births, advocacy group claims

Taiwan has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, and one of the highest rates for abortion, it was revealed at a press conference by pro-life pregnancy support and advocacy group Pro Femina, Friday, July 5. Pro Femina urged the government to address Taiwan’s high abortion rate. Government agencies have often weighed in on the problem of low fertility rates, which have at times been flagged as a national security issue. In a recent report, the National Development

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Boulder severs tracks on Taiwan’s east coast line: frequent landslides affect road and rail links since April 3 earthquake

Taiwan Railways reopened two-way traffic July 3, following a landslide that blocked road and rail links between Yilan and Hualien July 1, but traffic is reduced to a single line again today after a massive boulder fell onto tracks in the landslide-affected area. Railway personnel reported that a huge boulder fell onto the railroad, severing train tracks between Heren and Chongde train stations at 6:21 am today, July 4. Passengers travelling on the line were told to expect 15-20 minute

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Tourists evacuate roller coaster after power malfunction at Taiwan amusement park

A group of tourists were forced to make an emergency exit via a narrow plankway and stairway after a power malfunction caused a roller coaster to stop at an amusement park in southern Taiwan, yesterday, June 28. According to a press release, 16 park visitors were stuck 30 meters in the air when a power malfunction occurred on the “G5 Diving Machine” roller coaster at the Janfusun Fancy World Theme Park in Yunlin County at around 1:00 pm, Friday. Amusement

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Marijuana grow op busted: 780 plants in three locations in central Taiwan

Taiwan criminal investigators busted a marijuana grow op, confiscating 780 plants and 65 kilograms of dried cannabis at three locations in central Taiwan, in what is described as a sophisticated operation producing A-grade quality marijuana. According to a press release, the Telecommunications Investigation Team of the Criminal Investigation Bureau began an investigation after a tip-off at the end of last year. Police tracked the movement and activities of a 34-year-old man named Tsai and three accomplices. On May 21, police

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