TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A landslide blocked Taiwan's Provincial Highway 7 in Yilan's Datong Township (大同鄉) Wednesday (Oct. 22), forcing immediate traffic controls and emergency response. Police reported the debris slide at the 88.3-kilometer (54.9-mile) mark at 8:34 a.m., triggering swift coordination between local authorities and highway officials. The incident underscores Taiwan's vulnerability to weather-related infrastructure disruptions during severe storm conditions.
Deputy Chief Ku Shih-chieh (古世傑) and Officer Tsai Ming-hui (蔡明輝) from the Yingshih Police Station (英士派出所) mobilized immediately. They coordinated with the Highway Bureau (高工局), Taiwan's road maintenance agency, to deploy heavy machinery for debris clearance. Severe rainfall and strong winds simultaneously battered Yilan's streets, toppling tarps and collapsing structural supports.
Fluctuating weather conditions permitted brief respites for residents, though coastal areas endured significantly harsher conditions. The tropical storm's outer rainbands combined with the northeast monsoon generated a powerful cloud formation over northern Taiwan, creating dangerous high waves that forced tourists to abandon beach activities. Yilan County authorities closed schools and offices while shuttering Guishan Island (龜山島) for three days due to waves exceeding three meters (9.8 feet).
Keelung endured powerful wind gusts reaching 103–117 km/h (64–73 mph), while the Hong Lueh 8 (宏略8號) vessel nearly sank from severe hull damage. Despite relatively light precipitation in Keelung's city center, New Taipei's mountainous Pingxi district experienced relentless downpours. The torrential rainfall created dramatic waterfalls that swept through local bus stops, highlighting the storm's uneven but destructive impact.