87 people injured, 14,000 evacuated as Typhoon Bavi batters Taiwan

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Typhoon Bavi lashed Taiwan on Saturday, leaving 87 people injured, prompting the evacuation of 14,476 residents nationwide, and knocking out power in 177,485 households, according to the government.

Most of the injuries were caused by people falling from motorcycles or bicycles during strong winds and on slippery roads, while some injuries occurred during the typhoon preparations, the latest data from the Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) showed at 3 p.m.

No fatalities or severe injuries had been reported as of that time, the center said.

CEOC data showed that 14,476 people had been evacuated nationwide due to flooding and landslide risks. The largest number was in Hualien County with 5,180, followed by Taichung with 2,060, New Taipei 1,698, Kaohsiung 1,671, and Hsinchu County 1,496, the data indicated.

Starting early Saturday, Typhoon Bavi drenched Taiwan with torrential rain, prompting "red" alerts -- the highest warning level for landslides and debris flows -- for 45 areas across the country, including 28 locations in Hsinchu County and others in Taoyuan, as well as in Miaoli, Yunlin and Chiayi counties.

Under the alerts, issued by the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, two areas in Hsinchu County and one in Taoyuan were warned of large-scale landslides.

"Yellow" alerts -- the lowest level -- were issued for debris flows in 214 streams in New Taipei, Taoyuan, the counties of Yilan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Yunlin and Chiayi, and other municipalities.

Meanwhile, 177,485 households nationwide had experienced power outages as of 3 p.m. Saturday, Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) said, adding that electricity had been restored to 158,631, or 89 percent, of them.

Of the 18,854 households that were still without power, 3,181 were in Taichung, 2,244 in Kaohsiung, 2,055 in New Taipei, 1,722 in Yunlin, 1,707 in Miaoli, and smaller numbers elsewhere, Taipower said.

As of 3 p.m., the CEOC said, it had received 1,456 reports of fallen trees and infrastructure damage caused by the typhoon, mostly in New Taipei and Taichung, and 614 had not yet been addressed.

The next CEOC briefing is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Central Weather Administration has forecast that the radius of Typhoon Bavi will move away from Taiwan by late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.