Taipei: Taiwan has been on high alert as Typhoon Krathon approaches, leading to the closure of offices and schools, the evacuation of thousands of residents, and the cancellation of flights and ferry services.
Typhoon Krathon is packing sustained winds of 173 km/h (107 mph) and gusts reaching up to 209 km/h (130 mph). The Central Weather Administration reported that the storm was located approximately 160 km (99 miles) southwest of Kaohsiung as of Wednesday morning. It is expected to make landfall in the southwestern port city in the early hours of Thursday, bringing with it torrential rain and strong winds.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai requested the 2.7 million residents of the city to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary and to move away from flood- and landslide-prone areas near rivers, the sea, and mountains.
Forecasts predict up to 80 cm (31 inches) of rainfall in surrounding mountainous regions. “Krathon will be no less powerful than Typhoon Thelma in 1977, which caused severe devastation in our city, resulting in 37 deaths and 298 injuries,” Chen warned.
Typhoons are a rare occurrence on Taiwan’s densely populated west coast, typically affecting the mountainous eastern regions facing the Pacific. In July, Typhoon Gaemi resulted in landslides and flooding, claiming at least 11 lives. In light of the impending storm, all cities and counties in Taiwan declared a day off on Wednesday.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that nearly 10,000 individuals had been evacuated from high-risk areas as a precaution. In preparation, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence placed nearly 40,000 troops on standby.
As of late Tuesday, 35 typhoon-related injuries were reported across the island, though authorities did not provide further details.
Krathon has already caused significant destruction in the northern Philippines, where it has claimed at least one life, displaced around 5,000 residents, and led to widespread flooding.
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