Taiwan announces service, activity suspensions due to Typhoon Podul

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) As Typhoon Podul continued on its path toward Taiwan on Tuesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a land warning for parts of southern Taiwan to get people to take precautions. The following is a summary, compiled by CNA, of the suspension of activities as well as services related to transportation and recreational parks around Taiwan.

Ferry services

★ The Maritime Port Bureau (MPB) said eight journeys on three routes -- Fugang-Green Island, Nangan-Langqi (Fujian) and Beigan-Huangqi (Fuzhou) -- were canceled Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the MPB also announced service suspensions on Wednesday on the following routes: Keelung-Matsu, Nangan-Langqi (Fujian), Beigan-Huangqi (Fuzhou), Kinmen-Wutong Ferry Terminal (Xiamen), Kaohsiung-Magong, Budai-Magong, Magong-Wangan Township-Qimei Township, Jiangjun (Tainan)-Dongji Island, Dongang-Xiaoliuqiu, Yanpu-Xiaoliuqiu, Fugang-Green Island, Fugang-Lanyu (Orchid Island), Houbihu-Lanyu (Orchid Island).

★ The Kinmen County Harbor Bureau announced that journeys between Kinmen and China's Quanzhou were canceled on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, services to the Wutong Ferry Terminal in Xiamen and the Shijing Passenger Pier in Quanzhou will also be suspended Wednesday.

Domestic Flights

★ Taiwan-based operators Mandarin Airlines and Uni Air announced that all domestic flights will be canceled on Wednesday due to the typhoon.

★ Daily Air Corp. also announced flight suspensions for its various routes on Wednesday, including Taitung-Lanyu (Orchid Island), Taitung-Green Island, Kaohsiung-Qimei Township, Kaohsiung-Wangan Township and Qimei Township-Penghu proper.

International flights

★ Taiwan-based operator China Airlines announced that flights CI116/CI117 between Taoyuan International Airport and Fukuoka, CI122/CI123 between Taoyuan and Okinawa, CI162/CI163 between Taoyuan and Seoul's Incheon Airport, CI527/CI528 between Taoyuan and Shenzhen, CI703/CI704 between Taoyuan and Manila, and CI915/CI916, CI919/CI920, CI923/CI924 between Taoyuan and Hong Kong are canceled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the carrier also announced that routes CI126/CI127 between Kaohisung and Tokyo's Narita Airport, CI132/CI133 between Kaohsiung and Okinawa, CI176/CI177 between Kaohsiung and Osaka, CI839/CI840 between Kaohsiung and Bangkok, and CI934/CI935/CI936 between Kaohsiung and Hong Kong are canceled for Wednesday.

The airline said that other flights may be rescheduled earlier or delayed, suggesting travelers to look up and confirm the latest flight information via the airline's website or mobile phone app.

★ Eva Air said that all its flights to and from Kaohsiung on Wednesday afternoon will be rescheduled or canceled, while flights at Taoyuan and Taipei Songshan Airport will operate as usual.

It also suggested travelers to confirm the latest flight conditions on their flights on its website or app.

★ Tigerair Taiwan said that in consideration of flight safety, its flights IT670/IT671 between Kaohsiung and Jeju Island, IT288/IT289 between Kaohsiung and Okinawa, IT284/IT285 between Kaohsiung and Osaka's Kansai Airport, IT262/IT263 between Kaohsiung and Okayama, IT772/IT773 between Kaohsiung and Sendai, IT321/IT322 between Kaohsiung and Macau, and IT585/IT586 between Kaohsiung and Da Nang, and IT281 from Narita to Kaohsiung are canceled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the IT268 flight from Kaohsiung to Nagoya will take off earlier and the IT269 from Nagoya to Kaohsiung will be delayed to Thursday, the airline said.

It advised travelers to check the "Flight Status" function on its website for the latest flight change information, as flight departures and arrivals may adjust according to weather conditions.

★ Starlux Airlines has not announced flight adjustments as of press time.

Recreational parks

★ According to the Taichung branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, the Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area, the Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area and the Wuling National Forest Recreation Area were closed to the public at 5 p.m. Tuesday as a safety precaution.

Thirteen hiking trails, including the Guguan Seven Heroes, were also temporarily closed starting at that time.

The reopening date of each park will be announced separately once the land warning for Typhoon Podul is lifted and after park authorities complete their respective damage assessments and cleanup, the branch office said.

★ Entry to the Yushan National Park was prohibited starting at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday following the issue of a sea warning by the CWA, and its reopening will be announced at a later date.

★ The Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan County as well as the eight hiking trails there were closed to the public from 12 p.m. Tuesday as a safety precaution due to the approaching typhoon.

★ The Shei-Pa National Park was closed to visitors on Tuesday.

The Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area and Shei-Pa National Park will be reopened when circumstances permit.

Scenic spots

★ Guishan Island off Yilan County is closed off to visitors for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Activities

★ Activities for the Taipei Summer Festival, including fireworks, will be canceled on Wednesday.

★ The Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival will be canceled from 6 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday.

★ Activities for the Taiwan International Balloon Festival in Taitung will be canceled for two days on Wednesday and Thursday.