Yehliu Ocean World Taiwan drowned by huge waves
Giant waves brought by a typhoon storm surge caused extensive damage to Yehliu Ocean World in New Taipei City last weekend, killing more than 500 marine creatures housed in the park's tanks.
The 23-year-old theme park, located on the northern coast, was hit in the early hours of Saturday by a surge of waves churned up by the storm.
Yehliu Ocean World Manager Liao Chun-wei "at about 3am, a huge wave slammed over the park's seafront levee wall.
"The wave swept through the parking lot and broke through the glass doors of our front entrance.
"The seawater kept advancing, pouring into our aquarium and into marine life cultivation tanks that are kept in the basement."
The tanks' oxygenation system was shut down by the rushing seawater, starving more than 500 sea animals of oxygen, including fish, eagle rays, blacktip reef sharks, puffer fish, moray eels and snapping turtles.
Liao added "fortunately, the 11 dolphins and seven sea lions that are the stars of the park's regular performances were unharmed.
"Other parts of the building were also damaged by the storm and some pieces of metal sheeting from the observation deck on top of the building were blown away."
Overall, Liao estimated the park incurred about NT$5 million (US$167,000) in damage.
The park has been shut down indefinitely, pending clean-up efforts and restocking of marine animals.
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