Typhoon Baihaitun Topples Containers at Keelung Port
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Typhoon Baihaitun came closest to Taiwan on 9 August as it skirted waters off the island’s north, bringing severe wind and rain to coastal areas in the north. At Yang Ming Marine Transport’s container yard in Keelung Port, multiple containers weighing tens of tonnes reportedly toppled in a chain collapse, crushing a yellow gantry stair structure and other port equipment. Officials said no one was injured in the port incident, and the Keelung branch of the port authority moved to cordon off the area and assess the damage. Across Taiwan, disaster response authorities had logged 632 incidents and six injuries by 2pm, with the heaviest concentration in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan
Key Points
- The collapse happened on the morning of 9 August at Yang Ming Marine Transport’s Keelung container yard inside Keelung Port during intense wind and rain.
- Reports said the stacked containers may have been hit by forceful outer rainbands and gusts reaching Beaufort force 10, causing a sideways domino-style fall.
- Red containers rolled into the roadway, blocking access, while steel outer panels were dented, split and torn under repeated impact.
- A yellow gantry stairway, handrails and nearby port machinery were crushed and twisted, with some container bases left fully suspended off the ground.
- Taiwan’s disaster authorities counted 632 incidents by 2pm, including 468 resolved and 164 still being handled, with six injuries and no deaths or missing persons
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the Keelung accident is a reminder that typhoon disruption can quickly spread from coastal flooding to port operations and cargo handling, even without direct landfall. The same weather system also brought seawater flooding of about 30 centimetres near Keelung Miaokou Night Market during an astronomical high tide, underlining the combined risks of storm surge, heavy rain and strong gusts in busy urban coastal zones.