Taiwan shuts offices, schools as Super Typhoon Kong-rey nears
AFP/APP
Keelung, Taiwan: Taiwan closed offices and schools on Thursday as Super Typhoon Kong-rey approached, forcing thousands to evacuate ahead of one of the strongest storms to impact the island in years.
Up to 10-metre waves battered the shores of Taiwan’s mountainous east coast, where Kong-rey, traveling at a “relatively fast” 21 kilometers per hour, was expected to make landfall.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that the storm was less than 70 kilometers from Taitung County and packing winds of up to 184 kilometers per hour (114 mph), equal in intensity to Typhoon Gaemi, Taiwan’s strongest storm in eight years.
Chu Mei-lin, a meteorologist at CWA, warned that the typhoon’s impact on Taiwan would be “quite severe,” urging citizens to take precautions against the powerful winds near the storm’s center.
Across Taiwan, work and schools were suspended, with residents in Taipei remaining indoors as heavy rain and fierce winds swept through the capital.
“This typhoon feels very strong,” said 52-year-old Kevin Lin, who spent his day off at home. “I’m used to the many typhoons in Taiwan, so I don’t feel scared.”
As of Thursday, at least 27 injuries were reported due to storm-related incidents such as toppled trees and four recorded mudslides, according to the National Fire Agency. Authorities were also attempting to reach two Czech tourists believed to be hiking in Taroko Gorge in Hualien, who were unreachable by phone.
Over 400 flights were canceled, all ferry services suspended, and around 18,000 homes briefly lost power, though most were reconnected swiftly. Taiwanese tech giant TSMC stated that its facilities were prepared for the typhoon, activating standard storm alert procedures and anticipating minimal impact on operations.
The storm is forecasted to weaken after hitting land, moving across Taiwan’s mountainous center and exiting over the Taiwan Strait by evening.
However, its 320-kilometer radius makes it one of the largest storms to strike Taiwan in nearly 30 years. Over a meter of rainfall could inundate east coast regions, which, combined with seasonal monsoons, has heightened the risk of landslides.
The National Fire Agency reported the evacuation of 8,600 residents from vulnerable areas, including Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. Nearly 35,000 troops were on standby for relief operations. President Lai Ching-te advised against “dangerous behavior,” such as going to beaches to watch the waves.
This will be Taiwan’s third typhoon since July. Typhoon Gaemi claimed at least 10 lives, injured hundreds, and led to severe flooding in Kaohsiung.
It was followed by Typhoon Krathon in October, which also caused fatalities, injuries, mudslides, and record gusts. Scientists have linked the increasing intensity of these storms to climate change, which leads to heavier rainfall and flash floods.
