TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has not had a direct hit from a typhoon in approximately four years, but now the country is preparing for the arrival of Typhoon Doksuri.
The Taiwanese government has suspended its annual Han Kuang exercises in the eastern and southern parts of Taiwan in anticipation of a possible landfall.
Residents are also taking measures to fortify their homes and secure water pumps to prevent flooding. Meteorologists warn that the El Nino phenomenon could intensify this year due to rising sea temperatures.
"Under the influence of a strong El Nino phenomenon, tropical storms approaching Taiwan may reach magnitudes of typhoons or even super typhoons," said famed meteorologist Peng Chi-ming.
Statistics from weather bureaus indicate that between June and December, there are usually 21 to 25 tropical storms, but only about 3 to 5 of them would impact Taiwan.
This year, the number of storms may be similar, indicating more typhoons in the latter half of 2023. In particular, the El Nino phenomenon could increase the formation and severity of storms.
However, experts point out that speed is the primary concern for potential devastation to Taiwan.
National Taiwan University (NTU) Atmospheric Sciences Professor Kuo Hung-chi explained, "The devastating Typhoon Morakot and Typhoon Nari, which flooded Taipei, were both smaller tropical storms."
Kuo added: "They weren't big typhoons, but the problem was they moved at a slow speed, making them even more dangerous."
Typhoon Doksuri has already entered the Bashi Channel and is moving north, with southern and eastern Taiwan expecting torrential rain later in the evening.
Despite the relief from typhoons over the past four years, experts urge the public to remain vigilant and strengthen fortifications to mitigate the impact when the storm passes.