No school or work today in Taitung, Pingtung / 花東.高屏停班課 台鐵東部幹線.南迴線今停駛　　　　　　　　　　

As Typhoon Meranti continues to approach Taiwan, it has already brought strong rain to Lanyu with force 11 winds yesterday. Taitung and Pingtung county government were first to announce the cancellation of school and work for today. Taiwan Railways Administration announced the suspension of its service on the Eastern and South-link Line. However, train schedules on the Western Line will remain normal before noon. As Typhoon Meranti was getting closer to Taiwan, in Lanyu, the wind speed was rated 11 on the Beaufort Scale. Taitung City's coastal shore had seven-meter high waves. Many residences at Fugang Harbor have not recovered from damage made by Typhoon Nepartak, now big waves are threatening residents' safety. ==MR. CHU, Resident== I called the River Management Office, they told me the land is under the authority of National Property Administration. The National Property Administration said that they don't do maintenance on land. Coast Guard Administration teams from Taitung patrolled the coast and restricted access to people watching strong waves. Many stores in Taitung's downtown removed commercial signs and boards, to minimize possible damage from the typhoon. The Taitung County Government was first to announce a halt to school and work on Sept. 14. ==MR. HUNG, Resident== The early official announcement may scare people and create the illusion of a super typhoon. That would actually be better, for everyone to get fully prepared. Taitung is facing strong wind and rain and the county government urges residents not to go out. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 莫蘭蒂颱風愈來愈接近東部，蘭嶼海面已經颳起11級強陣風。 傍晚，台東市海邊也掀起7公尺高風浪，一戶靠近富岡海邊的民宅，在前一次的尼伯特颱風期間還來不及復原，現在風浪又一波波打上岸邊，附近居民非常擔心住家的安全。 ==當地居民 朱先生== 去找河川局 說土地是國有財產局 國有財產局說他們 哪有什麼東西可以整理 由於東部海面風浪逐漸增強，台東海巡隊在東海岸沿線，都拉起封鎖線管制民眾靠近，並且加強勸導來觀浪的民眾。台東市區的商店招牌，這次在颱風來臨前，有民眾先把招牌拆下，避免被強風吹倒。 台東縣政府也率先，在下午兩點半宣布，14號全縣停止上班上課。 ==民眾 洪先生== 提早公布我覺得會人心惶惶 就是很像會很大的感覺 但是這樣也比較好啦 就是可以讓大家去準備 入夜後台東的風雨預估會再增強，台東縣政府呼籲民眾晚上盡量避免外出。 記者 章明哲 台東報導