With Typhoon Fanapi sweeping into Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou presided over a video conference with local officials for briefings on the typhoon and related damage reports. President Ma urged the authorities to take measures to prevent major damages, including evacuating more than 6,000 people in mountainous areas prone to mudslides.

Strong wind and torrential rain brought by typhoon Fanapi ravaged Hualien County, where as many as 77,400 families are left in dark without electricity.

Before the service is resumed, Hualien county magistrate Fu Kuen-qi complained to President Ma about the slow repair process during the video conference in early morning.

President Ma instructed to address the problem before noon and listened carefully to the briefing by various departments in the Central Emergency Operation Center. So far, no casualty is reported.

But the authorities have issued yellow warning of 431 rivers as they are under the threat of mudslides.

The warning is expected to be elevated to red alert in the afternoon.

Although the safety in mountainous area may be compromised, the number of people evacuated from home is as high as 6,775.

President Ma finds the result satisfactory.

Given the lesson from Typhoon Morakot, which literally ruined the Xiaolin village and left many stranded for help, the government is dedicated its efforts to minimize disaster losses by keeping people away from danger.

Meanwhile, the Central Weather Bureau continues to readjust upward the accumulated rainfall and flood discharge has been carried out in eight water reservoirs across the country.