Taiwan took significant precautions on Wednesday as Typhoon Krathon approached, leading to the closure of schools and financial markets across the island.
The typhoon, which had been packing sustained winds of 173 kilometers per hour, 107 miles per hour, and gusts reaching 209 kph, was located about 140 kilometers southwest of southern Kaohsiung at 10:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT), according to the Central Weather Administration.
Although Typhoon Krathon was downgraded overnight from a strong to a medium typhoon on Taiwan’s scale, its expected landfall near Kaohsiung or Tainan was now projected for Thursday morning, a delay from previous forecasts. CWA chief Cheng Chia-ping noted, “This typhoon is moving very slowly. The time of its landfall continues to be delayed. The latest forecast is that the typhoon’s centre will make landfall at about 10 am tomorrow.”
He added that after landfall, Krathon is expected to weaken quickly, diminishing into a tropical depression by Thursday morning and likely dissipating over Taiwan’s landmass.
In response to the impending storm, offices and schools were shuttered, and the interior ministry reported the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from vulnerable regions.
President Lai Ching-te had previously cautioned on Tuesday that the typhoon could cause “catastrophic damage” and urged citizens to remain “particularly vigilant” given its unusual trajectory, which is expected to take it out through Taiwan’s east coast.
All domestic flights and ferry services were canceled on Wednesday, with approximately 250 international flights also suspended due to safety concerns. Meanwhile, the defense ministry reported that nearly 40,000 troops were on standby, ready to assist in relief efforts.
As of Wednesday, 46 injuries linked to the typhoon had been reported, and one individual was missing in western Yunlin county after falling into the sea.
Typhoons are a common occurrence in the region during this time of year, but a recent study indicates they are increasingly forming closer to coastlines, intensifying rapidly, and persisting longer over land due to climate change.
In Kaohsiung, local authorities took proactive measures by distributing sandbags and clearing storm drains, aiming to prevent a repeat of the devastating flooding experienced during Typhoon Gaemi in July. That storm was the strongest to hit Taiwan in eight years, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
Residents in Kaohsiung prepared for the worst by taping windows, filling sandbags, and erecting barriers around their homes to fend off floodwaters.
Coast guard officers patrolling the picturesque Sizihwan Bay area warned visitors to stay away due to powerful waves crashing against the coast.
Krathon had initially struck a remote group of islands in the Philippines, causing widespread power outages, disrupting communications, and damaging many homes, as reported by local officials.
The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council announced that eight people had been injured and one individual was missing as a result of the storm, which displaced over 5,431 residents, primarily in the northern regions of Ilocos and Cagayan Valley.
