Two people have died in the Philippines and 1 in Taiwan after strong winds and torrential rain brought by Tropical Storm ‘Bailu’, known in the Philippines as ‘Ineng’.
Philippines
One person died after rain triggered a landslide burying a house in Pasuquin town in Ilocos Norte province. The second fatality occurred when a man was swept away by floods in Laoag City.
Local disaster risk management authorities said that more than 8,200 residents were affected by floods and landslides in the province and over 400 displaced. Laoag City is under a state of calamity.
Taiwan
Bailu left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on 24 August, making landfall in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan the same day, before heading for China’s south-eastern coast.
One person died in Taiwan as a result of wind damage and 9 people were injured in further weather-related incidents. Thousands of households were left without power and transport was severely interrupted, including dozens of flights.
Around 3,500 people were evacuated in parts of southern Taiwan due to the threat of flooding and landslides.
Tropical Storm Bailu brought extremely heavy rain to eastern and southern Taiwan. In 48 hours to 26 August, Jinjhenshan in Jinfeng Township, Taitung County recorded 757mm of rain, Liushidanshan in Fuli Township, Hualien County 684mm and Funan in Fuli Township, Hualien County 624.5mm.
China
Bailu then moved on to China, making landfall on the southern coast of Fujian Province on 25 August. Around 50,000 people were evacuated in Fujian, and several flights were cancelled. Red warnings for heavy rainfall and a yellow warning for strong winds have been issued for Hong Kong, Guangxi and Guangdong Provinces.
