Tropical Storm Danas prompts closures, safety precautions across Taiwan

Taipei, July 5 (CNA) Taiwan began precautionary closures of mountain parks, coastal areas and select transportation services on Saturday as Tropical Storm Danas approached the island with increasing intensity.

In its first emergency meeting, the Central Emergency Operation Center warned that Danas is strengthening and is expected to affect Taiwan's southwestern coast from Sunday to Monday, bringing heavy rain to the south and east.

Several national forest recreation areas have been closed in advance, including the Kenting and Shuangliu recreation areas, while Tengzhi and Fuyuan remain shut due to previous weather damage, the center said.

Forest parks, including Hehuanshan, Aowanda, Dasyueshan, Basianshan and Wuling, will also close from Sunday.

Train services have also been suspended, including the Alishan Forest Railway, the Taipingshan sightseeing train (from 5 p.m. Saturday), and the Wulai trolley (from 8 a.m. Sunday).

The Fushan Botanical Garden in Yilan County will be closed as a precaution on Sunday and Monday.

The Highway Bureau said temporary closures may be implemented on sections of provincial highways No. 9, No. 18, No. 20, and No. 29, depending on evolving weather conditions.

Meanwhile, low-lying coastal areas, particularly south of Taichung and in eastern Taiwan, could face flash flooding, and people are advised to avoid hiking in the mountains or visiting beaches, especially near the Hengchun Peninsula, the center said.

The Central Weather Administration said a land warning for the storm was likely to be issued late Saturday night, with rainbands expected to move north as the storm's outer circulation nears Taiwan.

As of 2 p.m., Tropical Storm Danas was located 390 kilometers west-southwest of Cape Eluanbi and moving north-northeast at 8 to 11 kilometers per hour.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 72 km per hour and gusts of up to 101 kph, according to CWA data.