Typhoon Bartok Makes Landfall in Taiwan, 14 Counties on Alert for Heavy Rain and Winds

Typhoon Bartok made landfall in Taiwan early on the 11th, prompting a land alert for 14 counties and cities. Although the storm has weakened and its wind field has shrunk, its eyewall has entered northern, northeastern, and eastern Taiwan. The Central Weather Administration issued a heavy rain warning, predicting localized torrential to extremely heavy rain in mountainous areas of New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County. Other areas, including parts of Taipei, Nantou, Chiayi, and Yilan, are expected to experience heavy to torrential rain.

Residents in mountainous areas are warned of potential landslides, rockfalls, mudslides, and flash floods. Low-lying areas are also at risk of flooding. The public is advised to avoid mountainous areas and riverbanks. The weather agency also cautioned about strong winds, with gusts of up to level 11 or 15 in some areas, urging people to take precautions.

The storm's center was located about 340 kilometers east of Taipei, moving northwest at 27 kilometers per hour. Maximum sustained winds were 40 meters per second, equivalent to level 13, with maximum gusts reaching 50 meters per second (level 15). The seven-day wind radius was 350 kilometers, and the ten-day wind radius was 120 kilometers. The typhoon is expected to continue weakening.