Typhoon Chanthu skirts eastern Taiwan, thousands without power

dpa Taipei Typhoon Chanthu skirted eastern Taiwan on Sunday with heavy rain and strong winds, leaving thousands of households on the island without electri...

dpaTaipeiTyphoon Chanthu skirted eastern Taiwan on Sunday with heavy rain and strong winds, leaving thousands of households on the island without electricity.Taiwan Power Company said damaged power poles in southern and eastern Taiwan had left more than 14,000 households without electricity early Sunday, with more than 3,000 still waiting for power to be restored.The Central Emergency Operation Center said more than 2,500 residents in flood-prone areas or mountains in nine jurisdictions had been evacuated as of early Sunday.Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau urged residents in northern Taiwan to stay alert to heavy rains as the storm continued to move north at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour in waters off Taiwan’s east coast.People should also avoid going to coastal areas as waves on Taiwan’s east coast could reach heights of six metres, the bureau said.On Sunday, train services in mountains or flood-prone areas were suspended. More than 170 domestic and international flights had been delayed or cancelled, while some ferry services between Taiwan and offshore islands remained suspended.