TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Officials in Chishang Township (池上鄉) installed steel cables and protective equipment Monday (Nov. 10) to safeguard the famous Takeshi Kaneshiro Tree (金城武樹) as Typhoon Fung-Wong (颱風鳳凰) approaches Taiwan. The tourism landmark on Mr. Brown Avenue (伯朗大道) gained fame after the actor appeared in a 2013 Eva Air (長榮航空) advertisement beneath the tree. Township authorities implemented stringent protective techniques to prevent damage from the approaching storm system.
Township officials acted proactively due to the tree's fragile root structure, installing multiple steel cables, brackets, and rope nets before the typhoon's outer circulation impacts the area. Strong winds from Typhoon Matmo (颱風麥德姆) previously toppled the tree in 2014, prompting enhanced protective measures for this storm. Authorities completed the installation work to ensure the landmark's safety against impending high winds.
Chishang Township Mayor Lin Jian-hong (林建宏) emphasized the importance of protective measures, noting that authorities strengthened safeguards before any sea typhoon warning was issued. The mayor urged residents to prepare their homes for the approaching storm system. Officials implemented these precautions to protect both the landmark and the local community from potential typhoon damage.
Township officials prepared 250 sandbags for residents to register and collect, mitigating potential typhoon impacts on the community throughout Chishang Township. The Taiwan Highway Bureau (公路局) announced traffic control on Provincial Highway No.9 (台九線) northbound from 5 p.m. Monday (Nov. 10), keeping inner lanes open for essential travel. Officials will monitor wave heights and road conditions hourly, deciding when to reopen northbound lanes based on weather and safety assessments. ◼