Taiwan postpones fireworks show due to approaching typhoon

The threat of heavy rain from Typhoon Mufia (codenamed Kabayan in the Philippines) which exited Philippine territory before dawn Friday, has prompted the postponement of a fireworks festival scheduled for this weekend in Taiwan. Organizers of the Taipei Dadaocheng Firework Festival announced Thursday the "indefinite" postponement of the event, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. CNA reported Thursday night the annual fireworks show was initially scheduled for Saturday to coincide with Chinese Lover's Day. For this year, the show was to feature a 20-minute display of pyrotechnics at Dadaocheng Wharf in the city's Yanping Riverside Park. However, Saturday is also the time "Kabayan/Muifa" was predicted to be at its closest to Taiwan and bring rain there. In the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration had predicted "Kabayan/Muifa" would leave Philippine territory by Friday. The CNA report said Taipei City's Department of Information and Tourism was unsure of a precise date for the rescheduled show. — RSJ, GMA News