Huge waves pound Orchid Island causing severe damage

On the 28th August Typhoon Tembin took a sudden change of course violently attacking Orchid Island. Landslides caused by giant 5-6 meter waves brought in with the powerful southwesterly weather front resulted in the destruction of the farmer’s cooperative market and local gas station. The fuel tank in the gas station was also unable to withstand the attack of seawater and was eventually washed away. “Typhoon Tembin’s return path was slightly different from what the Central Weather Bureau forecast and huge waves resulted in sever damage to a number of areas: the road beside Orchid Island Elementary School was badly damaged, the fence alongside the airfield was completely washed away and a number of resident’s homes suffered serious damage” said Orchid Island Disaster Prevention Center officer Xie Han-Zhong.

In addition to sections of the island highway near Hong Tou and Yeyou village that saw serious damage, the typhoon’s destruction was also clearly visible in the harbor where in the region of 40 boats lay damaged. Currently, many sections of the highway are blocked from landslides and workers sent by the township office are in the process of clearing the debris. Residents in the worst hit area of Yeyou, where the farmer’s market and gas station were washed away are surviving on sweet potato and taro.

Wrecked vessels in Kaiyuan Harbor have already been salvaged and much-needed supplies are expected to reach the islanders by 30th August. Hsinfa Marine Transport has already confirmed it is sending a large cargo ship to the island with much needed supplies. Orchid Island is heavily reliant on boats for the transport of goods, so with around 20 boats wrecked following the assault of Typhoon Tembin, things are going to be tough. Over a period of two grueling days, islanders worked hand in hand to salvage the damaged and wrecked boats, clearing the way for a cargo ship to enter the harbor on the 30th. From the 31st August, the Orchid Island Star is expected to resume normal passenger crossings from Fugang.

PeoPo 公民新聞

Huge waves pound Orchid Island causing severe damage (by CJ miyowyaw)
URL: http://www.peopo.org/news/100140

(以下是中文對照)

大浪侵襲 蘭嶼建築物遭嚴重破壞 ( miyowyaw )

8月28日天秤颱風回馬槍侵襲蘭嶼，旺盛的西南氣流掀起了約有5-6米的巨浪，農會、加油站因為海水倒灌，帶來大量的土石沖毀，加油站的加油箱也禁不起海水的沖刷，遭到連根拔起。蘭嶼防災應變中心承辦人謝漢忠表示，天秤颱風回馬槍的路徑與中央氣象局的預測有些出入，大浪造成重大災情，蘭嶼國小旁的路基嚴重掏空，機場跑道旁的柵欄全數沖毀，民眾的家園也遭受嚴重破壞。港口的船隻目前保守估計有至少40艘船受損、遺失。環島公路紅頭、椰油路段有多處土石掏空，目前因土石流路段過多，鄉公所正在派人搶通中。而遭受最嚴重的椰油部落居民說，農會、加油站沒了，現在也只能吃地瓜跟芋頭了。目前開元港內船隻的殘骸已打撈得差不多了，民生物資預計在8月30日可以有貨船送進蘭嶼，目前新發航運的大發號已確定開船前往。蘭嶼長期依賴海運運送來自台灣的物資，但因為天秤颱風影響，導致至少有20艘漁船、快艇遭浪分屍而沉沒海底。在全體鄉民互相協助整理船隻，經過兩天的打撈、整理，預計30號開始會有貨船進來蘭嶼。前往富岡的客輪綠島之星，也將在8月31日開始恢復載客。

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