TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Fung-wong threatens Taiwan with widespread work and school suspensions as the dangerous storm approaches, with landfall in central and southern regions expected on Wednesday (Nov. 12). The typhoon has already killed at least two people in the Philippines, prompting President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to urge nationwide vigilance against the approaching storm.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has convened emergency disaster response meetings as officials prepare for the storm's potential impact on the northern capital city. The mayor will announce typhoon holiday decisions later on Monday evening (Nov. 10) after closely monitoring the storm's trajectory and assessing local weather conditions.
President Lai Ching-te has emphasized a heightened red alert status for a barrier lake in Hualien County and called for comprehensive typhoon preparedness nationwide due to the storm's unusual path. Officials warn the typhoon's trajectory requires extraordinary caution across Taiwan's most vulnerable mountainous and coastal regions.
Taiwan's "typhoon days" enable city and county leaders to suspend work and school attendance during severe storms, thereby preventing weather-related accidents and injuries. While suspensions typically apply to public-sector workers, private-sector employees retain the right to refuse work during extreme weather conditions that pose a threat to their safety.
Taipei's Disaster Prevention and Rescue Center forecasts significant rainfall on Tuesday (Nov. 11) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the capital region. The Yangmingshan mountain area is expected to receive 150 to 200 millimeters of precipitation, while the city center areas are forecasted to receive 70 to 150 millimeters. Meanwhile, Wenshan and Nangang Districts are expected to receive 150 to 250 millimeters of precipitation.
Officials will automatically suspend work and classes if rainfall reaches 200 millimeters in mountainous areas or 350 millimeters in lowland regions within 24 hours. These established thresholds follow Taiwan's natural disaster response guidelines designed to protect public safety during severe weather events.
National Taiwan University meteorology researcher Hsiu Jung-kuang warns that the Yangmingshan mountain area could experience dangerous levels of torrential rain within 12 hours. Xinyi District is expected to receive rainfall of up to 150 millimeters, while Nangang District may potentially reach 250 millimeters during the same critical period.
Meteorologist Chia Hsin-hsing warns multiple regions across Taiwan could meet automatic suspension criteria for work and classes. Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung's mountainous areas, as well as the northern coastal and mountainous regions, all face potentially hazardous rainfall accumulation levels.
Authorities maintain a heightened red alert status for a dangerous barrier lake in Hualien County as Typhoon Fung-wong approaches Taiwan. The storm's unusual trajectory and path have prompted comprehensive emergency preparedness measures across Taiwan's most vulnerable mountainous and coastal areas. ◼