Huge waves topple crane into sea, blocking port access

2026-10-23

Gigantic waves as tall as 10m battered Taitung on Friday, as Typhoon Champi sweeps past Taiwan. The powerful waves caused a massive crane to topple at Fugang Fishing Harbor. The crane was used to transport wave-dissipating blocks, and cost NT$10 million. It was 50m tall, and despite a weight of some 250 tons it fell right into the sea. It sank into the harbor access blocking the way for vessels to Green Island and Orchid Island.

Mr. Wang
Fisherman
It’s blocking the access now. They definitely won’t be able to lift it out until the typhoon has passed on the 25. Bigger vessels will be afraid of running aground if they’re too close to the coast. But if they go through the middle, they could hit the sunken crane.

Wang Yi-kai
Ferry operator to Green Island
The crane is now sitting at the bottom of the access, so neither passenger ferries nor cargo ships can get in or out. People on Green Island and Orchid Island can’t come over. And they can’t receive any supplies.

Wu Che-yuan
Taitung Agriculture Department
Sea conditions are unfavorable right now. The wind is too strong and the waves are too big. We can only start removal work once the weather gets better and it is safe to do so.

Sea transport links between Taitung and the two outlying islands have been suspended for three days already due to the typhoon. So getting supplies to the islands in a timely manner will be crucial once the weather clears. But with the crane now lying across the port access, no vessels will be able to get in or out. Though people hope that Champi will leave soon, forecasters say the storm might slow down even more potentially even make erratic loops near Taiwan before turning north. It remains unknown whether it will be gone by Saturday noon.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#typhoon #champi #taitung #crane #craneoperator

驚悚! "大吊車沉海底"富岡漁港航道受阻離島物資中斷

2026-10-23

薔琵來襲，台東掀起近10米巨浪，富岡漁港一座重達250公噸、高約40至50公尺，造價一千多萬，吊消波塊的大型吊車，被巨浪襲擊，應聲倒下沉入海底，掉落在綠島、蘭嶼的物資運送的航道上。

[[富岡漁民王先生]]
“(擋到)航道啦，這個肯定是要25號，颱風過去的時候，才可以打撈了嘛，主要是大艘的往岸邊也怕觸礁，往中間又怕那個(吊車)”

[[綠島客輪業者王益凱]]
“這個吊車它現在在我們的航道，所以我們的客輪貨船，我們現在都是沒辦法進出，這樣子，綠島、蘭嶼兩個島，人出不來，貨進不去，物資缺乏”

[[台東農業處副處長吳哲元]]
“目前海象不佳，風浪過大，需待海象許可，且符合安全作業條件後，進行排除作業”

這條航道，因為颱風，已經停航三天，颱風遠離後，須立即運補民生物資，如今吊車吊臂橫躺航道，船隻不能進出，大家都在等颱風趕緊遠離，偏偏氣象署預估，薔琵移動速度可能減慢，甚至在北轉前夕，出現不規則打轉，能不能在明天中午前離開，出現變數。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
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Golden Melody winners lend voices to pop classics for NTSO gala

What kind of sparks fly when classical music merges with pop hits from across the ages? Find out on Nov. 7 at the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra’s Golden Melody Gala. Featuring performances from several award-winning musicians, the event at the National Theater and Concert Hall Plaza is to culminate with a performance by the Golden Melody King himself, Ricky Hsiao. Through brand-new symphonic arrangements, this exciting event promises to give audiences a fresh take on these timeless classics.

Staying on top of a brisk rhythm and sharp intonation, Hakka singer-songwriter Hsieh Yu-wei delivers a stirring performance with his soaring vocals.

Now, a string quartet performs Golden Melody-winner Sky Wu’s hit ballad Sharing, bringing the audience on a nostalgic journey down memory lane.

Ouyang Hui-kang
NTSO director
Great music is great music. As long as it’s a classic, no matter how it’s repackaged, it won’t diminish its value. It will always be great. It becomes timeless through different renditions. That’s how classics are made. I think every song in the program is something to look forward to.

On Nov. 7, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra is hosting a Golden Melody Gala at the main plaza of the National Theater and Concert Hall. Multiple Golden Melody winners have been invited to partake, reimagining classic pop hits through symphonic arrangements.

Ouyang Hui-kang
NTSO director
By making symphonic arrangements for these classics, we hope to pass them down. We look forward to giving a brand-new take on these incredible vocalists and compositions.

This is the third time the NTSO has held its annual “symphonic party” series. This year’s Golden Melody Gala is sure to satisfy lovers of both pop and classical music, presenting these timeless hits like you’ve never heard them before.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#NTSO #classicalmusic #popmusic #GoldenMelody #GoldenMelodyGala #symphony #RickyHsiao

2026-10-23

Hospital opens clinic devoted to treating skiing injuries

Taiwan doesn’t have any ski resorts, but Taipei Veterans General Hospital, has opened a clinic to treat injuries from the sport. As the winter months approach, many people are thinking of taking a skiing trip abroad. But the risk of injury from such high intensity exercise is always there.

Donning a doctor’s coat and riding a skateboard, Dr. Yang Yi-chiang moves skillfully and seamlessly through corridors. You might not expect it, but Yang is not only an excellent skateboarder, but in his private life also loves skiing. Combining his professional expertise with his own experience, he has specially opened a sports medicine clinic devoted to skiing.

Yang Yi-chiang
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
I started looking after skiers with injuries in 2023, but initially no one knew that I could help these athletes or ski enthusiasts. This formal system allows athletes who don’t know me to find me.

Amid the increasing popularity of skateboarding and snow sports, high-energy board sports often result in serious injuries. Taipei Veterans General Hospital has pioneered a skiing sports medicine clinic, led by Yang, an attending physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Yang has integrated his many years of skiing experience with his treatment of more than 600 skiing injuries. For example, Ms. Tsai, who has 19 years of skiing experience, sprained her right knee while skiing in January this year. By using force plate testing to track her condition, she showed significant improvement in just two months.

Ms. Tsai
Had a skiing injury
At first, when I jumped and landed, I didn’t dare to put any force on my dominant right foot. But after I finished the medication and rested it for a month, when I went back to retake the force plate test, I found that the force of my right foot jumping and landing was actually better and smoother.

There’s also Chen Tzu-hui, a Taiwanese professional snowboarder, who is competing in international events with the goal of reaching the 2030 Winter Olympics. To meet the demands of high-intensity competition, the medical team, through functional assessments, and in conjunction with external training experts, planned a personalized training program for her.

Chen Tzu-hui
Professional snowboarder
Knowing how to exercise doesn’t mean you know how to control your body. I felt I couldn’t move or control my body smoothly, so I went to a doctor for an evaluation. He gave me a training plan, and I practiced it for a week. Three months later, I went to Japan for jump ramp training, and I realized that my overall athletic performance and body control had improved dramatically.

Yang covers injury diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. He has also taken the initiative to design a skiing sports medicine platform to help skiing enthusiasts and beginners alike find suitable locations, as well as provide warnings and information on how to seek assistance after an injury. This enables skiers to achieve twice the result with half the effort in their treatment after an injury.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#sportsinjuries #skiinginjuries #skiingsafety #Taiwantreatments #Taiwansports

2026-10-23

Bank offers free basketball tickets for borrowing books

As reading rates decline, CTBC Bank is hoping to encourage the habit through its “Read for Sports” campaign. By borrowing at least five books from a public library, participants have the chance to win free tickets to a basketball game. The bank invited professional baseball, basketball, and esports players to serve as ambassadors this year, hoping to bring the joy of reading back into people’s lives.

VIPs take a photo together to kick off this year’s charity reading initiative. But the most well-received people on stage weren’t the officials, but the professional basketball, baseball, and esports athletes who left their gear behind to promote reading.

Chen Kuo-en
CTBC Sports Entertainment chair
With this Read for Sports initiative, we hope to link reading and sports together in people’s minds. I believe it will genuinely help people establish a good mindset.

CTBC Bank has held this reading campaign for 11 years running, partnering with 167 public libraries and eight university libraries across the four northern cities. Readers who check out at least five books before Dec. 20 or earn at least 10 points through the reading passbook system can receive two tickets to a DEA home game. A total of 6,000 tickets are up for grabs.

Chang Liao Wan-chien
Deputy Minister of Education
We’re also enthusiastically helping libraries incorporate more diverse topics like sports, culture, and popular science. We’re expanding our holdings from our traditional focus on content for families, and gradually moving toward building a reading support network for everyone.

Lin Jen-hung
New Taipei CTBC DEA player
I feel that sports are very high-energy, while reading is quiet and calming. I read a lot myself. After doing intense physical activity, I go home and read. It’s a great choice for helping settle your mind.

Over the years, the program has encouraged the borrowing of 600,000 books and given out more than 120,000 tickets to professional basketball and baseball games. This year is no different, hoping to foster the complimentary habits of sports and reading.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#CTBCBank #reading #ReadforSports #DEA #basketball #sports #libraries

2026-10-23

Sulcata tortoise breaks free to enjoy walk before typhoon

2026-10-23

Taiwan wins table tennis women’s doubles gold

Taiwan has bagged another medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asia Para Games. This time, it was in the table tennis women’s doubles event, where, Lin Tzu-yu and Tian Shiau-wen earned a gold, after beating China 3:1. Lin, who’s also won a gold at the mixed doubles and the women’s singles, has walked away with 3 golds at this year’s Asia Para Games, marking an incredible milestone for Taiwan this year.

In the table tennis women’s doubles, Taiwan’s Tian Shiau-wen and Lin Tzu-yu secured a gold medal against China.

Tian Shiau-wen
Taiwan table tennis player
When we got off, I felt like crying because I felt it’s such a huge breakthrough. I’m very grateful to my partner, who kept reminding me to relax and play calmly.

Lin Tzu-yu
Taiwan table tennis player
In the previous two games for women’s doubles, we also won silver and lost twice against the Chinese team. So this time we really had a major breakthrough, I feel incredibly happy.

This is Tian’s first gold, while Lin earned 2 golds and 1 silver at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games, missing out on a gold in the women’s doubles. This year, she finally had a breakthrough and earned a gold.

Lin Tzu-yu
Taiwan table tennis player
Having earned 3 golds, I feel is something I managed to pull through, whether it was my women’s singles, yesterday’s mixed doubles, or today’s women’s doubles. With so many games, I feel, in terms of score, it could have gone either way.

Turning the focus to badminton, particularly the SU5 final match, Fang Jen-yu secured himself a silver playing against China, and was overcome by emotion thanking his family and fans.

Fang Jen-yu
Taiwan badminton player
Thank you to my family for always supporting me, and I’m thankful to the many people who came to cheer me on today.

Having earned a bronze the previous Games and a silver this time round, Fang hopes to secure a gold next time.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#badminton #tabletennis #aichi-nagoya #asiaparagames #paralympics #su5

2026-10-23

Green Island, Orchid Island battered by Typhoon Champi

Typhoon Champi is unleashing a powerful assault on Taiwan’s outlying islands, with towering waves smashing into homes, flooding businesses and tearing apart coastal roads. On Green Island, one grocery store alone suffered an estimated NT$700,000 in damage. Meanwhile, on Orchid Island, massive boulders and driftwood were swept onto roads and parts of a seawall were destroyed. Even without heavy rain, the sheer force of the sea has left residents facing a major cleanup.

- The wave smashed against the entrance. Oh god. It’s terrible.

A local representative woke up to a terrifying sight: rubble and bricks covering the ground at the entrance to the village. Tall and powerful waves battered the area, denting gates and vehicles. Green Island was among the first places to feel the impact of Champi, which devastated Wenquan village. The waves even broke windows and sent water flooding into homes.

- Oh my god. What a wreck.

The window at this store is gone. The shelves and refrigerators inside all lie in a pile as if it were a dump. Damage is estimated at NT$700,000.

Hsieh Hsien-yu
Green Island Township Head
We should consider raising the seawall. The coast is beautiful, but people’s lives and property are more important than sightseeing.

The front row of houses has become a disaster zone. Over on Orchid Island, the situation isn’t much better. Seawater completely flooded a stretch of Huandao Road near Jikarahem, filling the asphalt with rocks and driftwood. Part of the seawall has been destroyed.

At Iraraley, tall waves swallowed up the breakwater, endangering vehicles parked nearby. The force of the sea washed up rocks onto the road, disrupting traffic.

Voice of Hsieh Ming-chih
Head of Iraraley
It’s all chunks from the reef. Some of them weigh half a ton. Some of the bigger ones can’t be cleared easily, so we had to deploy excavators.

Repairs are underway in the sections of the road that were damaged. Though there was no heavy rain in either island, the strong winds and waves caused considerable damage.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#champi #typhoon #orchidisland #greenisland #waves

2026-10-23

Taitung is last to announce typhoon holiday in Taiwan

At first, Taitung was the only county in all of Taiwan proper that didn’t announce a typhoon holiday, leading to the County Commissioner April Yao’s Facebook being flooded with comments. It wasn’t until 6am this morning, that the Taitung County Government reversed their decision and announced emergency suspension of schools and workplaces. They claimed the typhoon’s path had changed and would last longer than anticipated.

-Didn’t you hear that today is a holiday?
You didn’t know? Haha

Like many students in Taitung, when this middle schooler heard this morning that schools were closed for the typhoon, he threw his arms in the air and danced. The news however comes as a late surprise.

- Is there a possibility to have a holiday?
- No, what are you guys thinking?

Taitung was the last county in all of the island of Taiwan to announce a typhoon holiday; the county government didn’t think that an abrupt announcement at 6am would catch the locals off guard.

Store owner
Taitung Market vendor
Our jobs require us to go out in the middle of the night; the winds are very strong at that hour making it nearly impossible to ride your motorcycle. The entire road is filled with dirt, flying everywhere. They aren’t prioritizing the safety of the locals, it’s not that I’m angry; I just think they are incompetent.

Member of public
Worries for long distance travelers
For those who have to travel far or those who already set out, and then hear it’s a holiday, it’s quite inconvenient.

Wang Chih-hui
Taitung County Deputy Commissioner
Until yesterday evening, the Central Weather Administration claimed that Taitung would see no rains. It wasn’t until 4 or 5am this morning that they updated their claims because the typhoon’s path was changing.

Taitung County Government altered their decision due to the typhoon’s changing path, since the winds in the morning were not strong, and only a few trees had fallen over, they were not sure a holiday was warranted, which has sparked discussions.

Wang Chih-hui
Taitung County Deputy Commisioner
Yesterday evening, our decision was primarily that the wind speeds hitting Taitung were around 4 on the Beaufort scale, but this morning with updated information, it suggested the wind speeds in Taitung remained at or above 6 all day.

As Austin Wang, an associate professor in Political Science, writes for The New York Times, the likelihood a mayor announces a typhoon holiday increases by 31% during an election year. Typhoons holidays remain a hot topic and with just some 30 days until the election, it seems typhoon winds are stirring up politics as well.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#champi #typhoon #austinwang #politics #taiwan

2026-10-23

Mourning family accuses borough warden of stealing from deceased

A shocking theft allegation in Miaoli! A family in mourning claims their borough warden slipped into the home of the deceased while the body was still there to steal valuables. More disturbingly, the widow was right there and watched helplessly, as she suffers from dementia and is unable to speak. The warden vehemently denies stealing anything, insisting he was simply helping tidy up because the deceased was his brother-in-law. He’s now firing back, claiming the accusations are nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign ahead of the local elections. Let’s hear more.

Voice of family member (anonymized)
Accusing borough warden of theft
The body was still in the house. We were waiting for the funeral transport to take him away. That’s when he came and stole the stuff. We thought he was just coming to offer his condolences, as wardens do. We had no idea he was trying to get our foreign caregiver out of the way by telling her to go do things.

Borough Warden
Accused of theft
The deceased was my brother-in-law. I called his kids, and told them that I’d take care of things. The table was very messy, so I grabbed a bag and straightened things out. The person accusing me of theft was actually a classmate of my election opponent.

- He said the widow was his sister.

Voice of family member (anonymized)
Accusing borough warden of theft
They’re not actually siblings-in-law, they’re cousins-in-law. He even knelt down and begged my brother and me to withdraw the lawsuit. He told prosecutors that he didn’t steal anything. But if he really didn’t steal anything, why would he feel like he needs to kneel down and beg us?

Lin Meng-kuan
Police officer
We identified the suspect and seized the relevant evidence. The case has been referred to the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of theft.

The incident reportedly took place earlier this month at a home in Tongxiao. It all came to light after the family could not find reading glasses of the deceased. That prompted the family to check surveillance footage, which is when they found the borough warden had entered the home. They later realized that there was five or six items missing, with a combined value of more than NT$10,000 in total. The warden maintains his innocence and claims the allegations are politically motivated. With both sides offering conflicting accounts, the truth will have to be determined through the legal process.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#theft #boroughwarden #shocking #mourning #slick

2026-10-23

Huge waves topple crane into sea, blocking port access