Taiwan battens down the hatches as Typhoon Koinu approaches east coast

satellite RGB image of Typhoon Koinu, October 3, 2023
Typhoon 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau issued a land warning for communities on Taiwan’s east coast as Typhoon Koinu intensified as it continued to move towards the island today, Tuesday, October 3. The CWB issued the alert for Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung counties at 11:30 am, warning the public to prepare for torrential rain, and strong winds. According to the CWB, at 11:00 am, Typhoon Koinu was located 440 kilometers east-southeast of Taiwan’s most southerly point, Point Eluanbi, and moving northwest at

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Typhoon Koinu expected to make landfall in southeastern Taiwan

CWB forecast path for Typhoon Koinu, October 2, 2023
Typhoon 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Severe Tropical Storm Koinu intensified into a typhoon early Monday morning, and weather forecasters have it on track to make landfall in southeastern Taiwan Thursday. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, Typhoon Koinu this morning was located 755 kilometers southeast of Point Eluanbi, and moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 11 kilometers per hour. Koinu has a storm radius of approximately 200 kilometers packing sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 180 kilometers

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Tropical Storm Koinu expected to strengthen to typhoon, closest to Taiwan Wednesday

Tropical Storm Koinu predicted path
Typhoon 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Tropical Storm Koinu formed east of the Philippines yesterday, and is expected to be upgraded to typhoon status before approaching the southeast coast of Taiwan and passing through the Bashi Channel later this week. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, early this morning Koinu was located 1,050 kilometers southeast of the Hengchun Peninsula and moving northwest at 12 kilometers per hour. The tropical storm had a minimum pressure of 985 hpa, with sustained winds of 25 meters per second and

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Man sentenced to death for arson attack that left 8 of his family members dead

Hsinchu District Court
Violent Crimes 
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A man who was found guilty of setting fire to his family’s business and residence, resulting in the death of eight people, was sentenced to death by the Hsinchu District Court today, September 28. [See previous story: 8 family members dead after arson attack in Hsinchu City] The prosecutor told the court that Chen Yanxiang had financial problems due to the accumulation of debts, and had often quarreled with his parents over housework issues. At around 9:40 pm on June

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Amphetamine factory raided in Kaohsiung City

police raid drug making operation in Kaohsiung City
Drugs 
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Police arrested three people after raiding a large-scale amphetamine manufacturing operation in Kaohsiung City that contained enough drug material to make an estimated NT$56 million worth of methamphetamine. According to reports in United Daily News, and Liberty Times, police began an investigation after a tip-off and found that a man, named Zhang rented a shed in an isolated area beside the Qieyu Wetland Park in January this year. Zhang and two other suspects are alleged to have purchased 200,000 cold

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Suspect in fatal hit and run case found dead of apparent suicide after fleeing the scene of the accident

car driver makes illegal left turn in front of approaching scooter
Traffic Accidents 
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A driver who allegedly fled from the scene of a fatal accident in Taoyuan City yesterday, was found dead in Yilan County last night, suspected of having committed suicide. Police began an investigation into a fatal hit and run case after a woman was found without vital signs beside her badly-damaged motor scooter in the middle of an intersection in Dayuan District. The 23-year-old woman, named Liang, was rushed to hospital, but declared dead after arrival. Police investigators accessed traffic

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Hornets nest removed after 4 hikers stung in New Taipei City mountain district

Asian giant hornets and nest
Animals Health and Safety 
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Specialist hornet catchers removed a nest of Asian Giant Hornets, after five hikers were stung in New Taipei City’s Ruifang District today. Keelung City Fire Department received a report at 10:46 am that three men and one woman were stung by hornets near the Tianwaitian Garden Cemetery. A 70-year-old man, a 64-year-old man, and a 60-year-old woman were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. A 69-year-old man sought medical treatment on his own. The female hiker, named Liu was the

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Four firefighters dead, more than 100 people injured after explosions and fire in southern Taiwan industrial park

factory on fire in Pingtung County, Taiwan
Fire 
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More than 100 people have been reported injured, and four firefighters are confirmed to have died, after a fire and multiple explosions at a factory in southern Taiwan, Friday, September 22. At around 5:30 pm, residents up to 10 kilometers away from the Pingtung Technology Industrial Park reported hearing a large explosion. Residents close to the site of the explosion felt the earth shake, and said that a strong chemical stench immediately followed the blast. Pingtung County Fire Department received

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Hornet attack on hiking group leaves 2 dead, 9 injured

line of ambulances waiting for sting victims
Animals Health and Safety 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Eleven people in a group of 20 hikers were stung by hornets in New Taipei City’s Ruifang District today, and four people were seriously injured. Two men lost vital signs and were declared dead after arrival at the hospital. The New Taipei City Fire Department received reports of the hornet attack at 11:38 am. Twenty ambulances and 51 personnel were dispatched to the trailhead. A command post was set up at the trailhead, and a rescue team was sent to

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Electric buses to replace diesel burners on Tamsui – Banqiao bus route from tomorrow

Foxtron electric bus Model T
Business and Economy 
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Thirteen new electric buses will join New Taipei City’s public transportation fleet tomorrow, plying route 857 between Banqiao and Tamsui districts. Sanchung Bus Company said that 13 buses on the company’s cross-district trunk line will be replaced by Foxtron Model T electric buses. The Taiwan designed and manufactured buses were first launched in Kaohsiung City in March last year. The 857 route will be the first time the Model T is used in northern Taiwan. The Model T has a

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