Typhoon Bavi injures 113, leaves hundreds of thousands without power

Typhoon Bavi battered Taiwan with torrential rain and strong winds, leaving a trail of disruption and injuring 113 people. The storm forced the evacuation of over 14,600 residents and caused power outages affecting more than 234,000 households across the island. The Central Emergency Operations Center reported that the majority of injuries stemmed from falls on slick roads or during typhoon preparations, with no fatalities or severe injuries confirmed as of late yesterday.

Hualien County saw the largest number of evacuations, with over 5,000 residents relocated due to flooding and landslide risks. "Red" alerts, the highest warning for landslides, were issued for 45 areas, while "yellow" alerts for debris flows covered numerous streams. The Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation issued large-scale landslide warnings for several locations in Hsinchu County and Taoyuan.

Taiwan Power Co. reported that while electricity had been restored to 96 percent of affected households, approximately 8,126 homes remained without power, primarily in Hsinchu and Taoyuan. The typhoon also caused significant infrastructure damage, with over 2,100 reports of fallen trees and property damage, mostly in Taipei and Taichung. Maintenance crews worked urgently to restore power and clear debris.

As Typhoon Bavi moved north of Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration noted a slight weakening but warned that strong winds persisted. Rain was expected to continue in mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan. The storm's circle was forecast to move away from the island by early this morning, with sea and land warnings potentially being lifted soon after.