TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Karathon (颱風山陀兒) threatens Taiwan as Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced on Monday (Sept. 30) an extra round-trip flight between Taipei and Hualien.
The Civil Aviation Administration (民用航空局) coordinated with UNI Air (立榮航空) to schedule the additional flight. The flight will depart Taipei at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in Hualien at 5:20 p.m. It will leave Hualien at 5:50 p.m. and return to Taipei by 6:30 p.m.
Chen also reported landslides along the Suhua Highway (蘇花路廊), leading to a precautionary road closure. The Taiwan Railway's (台鐵) South Link Line (南迴線) will offer standing tickets but will cease operations after 3 p.m. on Sept. 30. Trains will only allow passengers to exit, not enter.
Chen urged the public to stay vigilant, monitor typhoon updates, and follow transportation information closely. He also promised that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) will prioritize safety and expedite the restoration of regular rail and road transportation operations.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) issued a land typhoon warning early in the morning, predicting Typhoon Karathon's most significant impact on Taiwan from Oct. 1 to the morning of Oct. 3.