Taiwan records world’s third-strongest wind gust: 95.2 m/s at 9:52 pm in postcode 952

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Orchid-Island, Taitung County, typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

The fastest wind speed ever recorded in Taiwan measured 95.2 meters per second, and was recorded at 9:52 pm yesterday, October 4, on Orchid Island (Lanyu), Taiwan postcode 952. Some media outlets, including The Guardian are reporting that the measurement constitutes the third-fastest wind speed measured in the in the world, after 113.3 m/s recorded on Barrow Island, Australia in 1996, and 103.2 m/s at Mount Washington, New Hampshire, in 1934. According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the 95.2 m/s

Typhoon

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Hengchun, Orchid-Island, typhoon, Typhoon Koinu

Typhoon Koinu caused devastating damage on Orchid Island last night, before making landfall on the Hengchun Peninsula at 8:20 am this morning, Thursday, October 5. Orchid Island, situated 90 kilometers off the east coast, was the first place in Taiwan to bear the brunt of the typhoon when the eye passed over the island last night. Communications with the island remained cut off this morning. Former legislator Lai Kuncheng said that out of dozens of calls, he managed to make

crew in lifeboat and coast guard personnel

Marine and Fisheries

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment east-coast, Orchid-Island, ship-sinking, shipping accident, Taitung County

Taiwan’s coast guard rescued 9 people who were aboard a freighter that sank off Taiwan’s east coast after being hit by a oil tanker shortly after midnight this morning, April 26. The Taiwanese cargo ship Dafa No.1 was carrying supplies from Fugang Harbor, Taitung to Orchid Island when it was hit by the 42,010 gross-ton Liberian-registered oil tanker Lia (IMO: 9417751) traveling between Kuwait and South Korea. Keelung Coastal Radio picked up a distress call from the Dafa No.1 saying that

Culture Environment

May 8, 2021May 9, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment indigenous people, invasive species, Orchid-Island

Ecologists are warning that yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) have been found to be already established on Orchid Island, threatening a local species of land crab, and cultural workers say it could also affect important traditional customs of the indigenous Tao people. Professor Lin Chung-chi, an ecologist from the biology department at National Changhua Normal University recently led a team of students and researchers to the island, and found that the crazy ants are already established on the island. The

Animals

January 17, 2021January 18, 2021 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment indigenous people, Orchid-Island

The Council of Agriculture (COA) delivered 28 pure-bred miniature pigs native to Orchid Island back to their homeland after a 40-year captive breeding program designed to protect the species. The pygmy pigs arrived by boat at the Kaiyuan Harbor on January 15, according to United Daily News. The 10 boars and 18 sows were welcomed home by members of the indigenous Yami people. Shi La-heng, head of Langdao Village said that the pigs will be raised and bred in captivity

Marine and Fisheries

October 7, 2020October 12, 2020 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ambergris, Orchid-Island

A resident of Orchid Island found a mysterious stone while fishing on a beach in March this year, and it has been confirmed that the object is a lump of ambergris worth an estimated NT$6 million (US$209, 300). Mr Lee, a resident of Longdao Village said that he was drawn to the four-kilogram stone by a strong fragrance. Suspecting it may be ambergris, Lee took the stone home. Mr Lee subjected the stone to a simple test at home –

Culture

June 1, 2018June 1, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment indigenous people, Orchid-Island, Taitung, Yami

[Picture: T Di Genova, The Wild East Magazine] A Taitung County Councilor has requested the District Prosecutor allow procedures, required by law to determine the cause of accidental death, be carried out by the local health clinic, and local police on Orchid Island. The change would better accommodate the traditional Yami custom of burying the deceased before sunset on the day of death. Current procedures require that officials of the District Prosecutor’s Office have to travel to the island to

remains of helicopter fuselage recovered from ocean bed

Aviation

April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment helicopter crash, Orchid-Island, salvage, search and rescue

A helicopter that went missing 2 months ago was finally recovered from the seabed today, April 12. The remains of two out of 6 passengers and crew were found in the fuselage. The Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, belonging to the National Airborne Services Corps, was on an emergency medical evac mission when it lost radio contact, and disappeared from radar screens at around 11:50pm, Monday evening, February 5, shortly after taking off from Orchid Island. Three flight crew, an emergency

Society

January 26, 2018January 26, 2018 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment coast guard, college entrance examination, Orchid-Island, Taitung

The coast guard dispatched a patrol boat to Orchid Island yesterday to pick up two students who feared they would miss out on the College Entrance Examination after ferry services and flights to the island were cancelled due to bad weather. More than 136, 000 test candidates will sit for the exams today, Friday, January 26, and tomorrow, January 27. The tests are taken by students in their last year of high school, and are an important part of the

a coastguard vessel involved in body recovery Orchid Island

Marine and Fisheries

October 17, 2017October 17, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment diving, Orchid-Island

The body of a post-graduate student who went missing while diving off Orchid Island October 15 has been found and recovered today. The remains of Lin Jiazhi were found just 200 meters away from the place he went missing. Volunteer divers joined the search this morning at around 6:00am. At 8:40am the divers located a body underwater. A coast guard boat was dispatched to recover the remains. Related Video See Previous Article: Sea Snake Researcher Missing off Orchid Island.

Coast Guard Officers on Lanyu, Orchid Island

Marine and Fisheries

October 16, 2017 Phillip Charlier 0 Comment Lanyu, missing persons, Orchid-Island

A doctoral student from National Chung Hsing University is missing after diving in waters around Orchid Island Sunday morning, October 15. The doctoral candidate name Lin was diving with a colleague when his diving buddy realized Lin was missing at around 11:50am. Witnesses on shore reported seeing Lin floating on the surface before he disappeared again. Local coast guards rushed to the scene and called in a helicopter to assist with the search for the missing man. Local volunteers also

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Orchid-Island

Taiwan records world’s third-strongest wind gust: 95.2 m/s at 9:52 pm in postcode 952

Typhoon Koinu devastates Orchid Island before making landfall on southern tip of Taiwan: record wind gusts recorded before anemometer destroyed

Taiwanese freighter sinks after collision with oil tanker: crew of 9 rescued

Invasive crazy ants threaten ecology, traditional customs on Orchid Island

Native pigs return to Orchid Island after 40-year captive breeding program

Orchid Island resident finds lump of Ambergris worth NT$6 million

Councilor Requests Changes to Accommodate Orchid Island Burial Customs

Missing Rescue Helicopter Salvaged: Remains of 2 People Recovered

Coast Guard to the Rescue of Orchid Island Test Candidates

Remains of Missing Diver Found

Sea Snake Researcher Missing off Orchid Island