GREEN ISLAND FLIGHTS, FERRIES DELAYED BY STRONG WINDS|綠島外海風浪逾10級 海空交通全停擺

Affected by the northeastern monsoon and the typhoon circulation, the wind force on the weekend exceeded 10 knots, making the air and sea traffic grind to a halt. On Monday (Nov. 28th), ferries and flights were also suspended, and many teachers couldn't make it to Green Island, also known as Lyudao. Lyudao Junior High School was forced to suspend work and classes for two days, while the two elementary schools had to combine the two classes into one. Even the most important financial institution, Lyudao post office, couldn't operate in part because the manager couldn't return to work. Early in the morning, crowds jammed the Taitung Airport, waiting for flights to go back to work and classes. However, airlines announced that the early flight couldn't take off due to the strong wind. For teachers who had been waiting for two days at the airport, they felt helpless. ==MR. CHEN, teacher Green Island Elementary School== The announcement came suddenly that flights and ferries to Green Island were suspended. So everyone came and waited here as soon as they learned the news. For the two days, the strengthening northeastern monsoon led to strong wind and pouring rain in Green Island. Ferries to the island were suspended and anchored at Fugang Fishing Port. Many teachers from junior high and elementary schools couldn't make it to the island. Therefore, Lyudao Junior High School was forced to suspend classes for two days, with classes rescheduled on the weekend. Two elementary schools combined the two classes in response. ==LIU CHEN-NING, Dir.,Taitung County Govt. Educ. Dept.== As for Lyudao Junior High School, the majority of teachers came to Taitung County on the weekend for holding some activities. That's why the school is short of teachers right now. Besides schools, the post office was affected by the weather. The manager of the post office couldn't make it to the office, which hinders some of the normal operation. ==HUANG FENG-FU, Manager Green Island Post Office== If I can't go back, everything will come to a halt. It's not convenient for the public to go there for business. What if there is no money at the ATM? When wind force of the northeastern monsoon exceeds 10 knots in winter, the air and sea traffic grind to a halt for Orchid Island and Green Island, which are offshore from Taitung County. The residents on the outlying islands hope to have a means of transport to overcome the rigorous weather, helping them resolve the long-term perplexing problem of winter traffic. TRANSLATED BY：BRYANT CHANG 一大早，台東航空站擠滿了要搭機回綠島上班上課的民眾，但航班公告，早班的飛機因為風強無法起飛，要回綠島上課的老師已經來機場等了兩天，還是等不到班機很無奈。 ==綠島國小 陳老師== 是突然說停止要進去綠島的嘛 就停飛停船 所以大家也是第一時間 來這邊等這樣子 這兩天，綠島東北季風增強，島上出現了強風大雨，開往綠島的船班，也被迫停開，靠在富岡漁港碼頭，許多國中小學老師無法回綠島上課，綠島國中就被迫要停班停課兩天，週末再補課，而島上兩所國小則採合班上課。 ==台東縣教育處長 劉鎮寧== 綠島國中是因為 他們禮拜六禮拜天 有絕大多數的老師 都來台東市來辦理相關的活動 變成說學校裡面 現在是人力非常不足 綠島受天候影響的不只有學校，連綠島郵局也因為經理回不了綠島，有部份業務可能無法正常運作。 ==綠島郵局經理 黃豐富== 我不回去的話 什麼都不能動了 民眾要去辦事 造成很多不方便 提款機沒有錢怎麼辦 由於台東離島的蘭嶼和綠島，在冬天經常遇到東北季風只要超過10級，海空交通就要被迫停航，離島居民希望能有克服這種天候狀況的交通工具，解決他們長久以來很困擾的冬季交通問題。 記者 章明哲 台東報導