Taiwan shuts down for second day as Typhoon Krathon makes landfall

AFP | Kaohsiung

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Typhoon Krathon struck Taiwan yesterday, unleashing devastating mudslides, flooding, and destructive winds on the island, which has been largely shuttered due to the storm. At least two fatalities have been reported, and thousands of residents have been evacuated.

In Pingtung, rescue operations were hampered after a fire tore through a hospital, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals. Before Krathon made landfall in Kaohsiung, with gusts reaching 162 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), the Central Weather Administration urged the city’s 2.7 million residents to seek shelter immediately. As the eye of the storm passed through the area later in the day, authorities advised residents to stay indoors, bracing for heavy rain and lightning.

“It feels like the end of the world. I haven’t seen such a severe typhoon in decades. It’s so big and scary,” said Liu Chih-hsiang, a 60-year-old moving company owner in Kaohsiung. “Our neighbor’s metal roof has been blown off,” he added.

As the storm raged, schools, offices, and businesses across the island remained closed for a second consecutive day. The winds toppled trees, knocked over motorcyclists, and swept cargo containers from a pier. According to Taiwan’s Interior Ministry, around 10,000 people have been evacuated as of yesterday.

The National Fire Agency reported that torrential rain and fierce winds have led to at least two deaths, one person missing, and 219 injuries. A 70-year-old man died in a hospital after falling while trimming trees in eastern Hualien County, while a 66-year-old man succumbed to injuries after his truck collided with a large rock that had fallen onto the road in nearby Taitung.

The impact of Typhoon Krathon has also grounded air traffic, halting all domestic flights and canceling approximately 240 international flights. “We have to stay at least two or three days longer, so we need to plan accordingly,” said Chan Ka-woh, a stranded tourist from Malaysia at Kaohsiung airport on Wednesday.