Taiwan Sounds Sea Warning as Severe Typhoon Soulik Approaches

Taiwan told people to clear the seas as a storm with winds gusting as fast as 227 kilometers (141 miles) per hour loomed off its eastern coast.

Typhoon Soulik, a severe typhoon, approached Taiwan at 22 kilometers per hour [app. 14 mph] from a distance of 1,030 kilometers [644 miles] as of 8 a.m., according to a statement from the island’s Central Weather Bureau. A land warning may be issued later today, Cheng Ming- dean, director at the bureau’s forecasting center said by telephone.

The year’s first typhoon predicted to hit Taiwan follows Super Typhoon Jelawat last year, which swept through the island in September before injuring 20 people and grounding flights in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Typhoons often hit Taiwan, with the greatest frequency between the months of July and September, according to weather bureau records.

Airlines operating in and out of Taiwan are authorized to decide whether to cancel flights. China Airlines Ltd., Taiwan’s largest carrier based in the northern city of Taoyuan, said it expects to operate flights normally during the daytime tomorrow and will announce any changes to tomorrow evening’s schedule as soon as possible, Vice President Pierre Yang wrote in a text message.

Editors: Debra Mao, Hwee Ann Tan

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Aviation