1 / 8Mass Evacuation Ordered: Taiwan evacuated more than 8,300 people ahead of Typhoon Fung-wong’s arrival on Wednesday. The weakened storm brought record rainfall to the island’s east and triggered floods that rose to neck level in some areas. Schools and businesses were closed across southern Taiwan. Officials confirmed 51 people were injured as the storm system moved northward from the Philippines toward the island’s coast. (Reuters photo)
2 / 8Record Rainfall Hits: In the eastern county of Yilan, television footage showed severe flooding as soldiers rescued stranded residents. The harbour town of Suao reported over 1,000 flooded homes after receiving 648 millimetres of rain on Tuesday—a monthly record, according to weather officials. Fisherman Hung Chun-yi said water surged into his house rapidly, submerging the first floor and leaving deep layers of mud. (Reuters photo)
3 / 8Cleanup Efforts Begin: By Wednesday morning, the rains had stopped, and residents in Suao were clearing mud from homes and streets. The fire department said roughly 8,300 residents were relocated to safer areas, mostly in Yilan and nearby Hualien. Authorities said a northern monsoon worsened the rainfall, combining with the late-season typhoon to increase the storm’s intensity and duration across eastern Taiwan. (Reuters photo)
4 / 8Experts Cite Shift: Meteorologist Huang En-hong from Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said summer seasons are lasting longer, causing typhoons to arrive later in the year. He added that climate change may be linked to stronger or slower-moving storms but said more study is needed to confirm a trend. Officials warned that unseasonal weather patterns could continue to challenge emergency preparations across the region. (AP photo)
5 / 8Storm Path Forecast: Weather authorities said Fung-wong would likely graze the island’s far southern tip before heading into the Pacific Ocean. The system lost much of its strength after sweeping through the Philippines, where it killed 27 people. In September, a separate typhoon caused floods that killed 18 people in Hualien, raising local concerns over back-to-back extreme weather events this season. (Reuters photo)
6 / 8Minimal Northern Impact: Officials said Fung-wong would not directly affect Hsinchu in northern Taiwan, home to TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker. By Wednesday morning, the storm was about 140 kilometres southwest of the island in the South China Sea, moving northeast at 16 kilometres per hour. Maximum sustained winds reached about 65 kilometres per hour, with stronger gusts recorded along the southern coastline. (AP photo)
7 / 8Precautions Islandwide: Authorities warned people to stay away from beaches, where waves could reach 3 to 5 meters. Residents were told to secure fences, signboards, and loose items to prevent wind damage. Schools and offices remained closed in Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, Pingtung, Chiayi, and Miaoli. The capital, Taipei, continued normal operations as the government monitored the storm’s path and rainfall across the island. (Reuters photo)
8 / 8Philippine Toll Mounts: Before reaching Taiwan, Fung-wong battered the Philippines with heavy rain, floods, and landslides, leaving at least 27 dead. The Office of Civil Defence reported that over 623,300 people remained in evacuation centres as of Wednesday. Many deaths occurred in landslides across the Cordillera region, a mountainous area known for its pine forests, cool climate, and scenic rice terraces popular with travellers. (AP photo)
