Strong winds and a low-pressure trough have thrown Matsu's sea and air links into disarray — bad news for Dongyin's teachers and students as well as travellers heading back to Taiwan.

• The ferry between Nangan and Dongyin was suspended without notice on the 25th, leaving teachers from Dongyin Junior High and Elementary School stranded on Nangan and unable to return to the school.
• The first day of term has been pushed back from the 26th to the 27th, with a make-up day of classes on Saturday.
• Strong southwesterly winds combined with the low-pressure trough have brought thundershowers and heavy swells, with waves of 3 to 4 metres in the waters off northern Taiwan.
• Nangan Airport briefly halted take-offs and landings because of excessive crosswinds; five flights were cancelled, leaving passengers stranded in the departure lounge.
• The "mini three links" between Matsu and Fuzhou were also affected, and with China closing the port of Fuzhou, the service from Huangqi to Beigan turned back early.

Parents have called on the county government to learn from the episode and arrange for outlying-island teachers to return to their schools ahead of time when sea conditions are poor, so that students' right to education is not affected.

Outlook: Sailings are expected to resume on the 26th once sea conditions settle, but the fragility of outlying-island transport will not be resolved any time soon.