Taiwan has taken significant precautionary measures as Typhoon Krathon bears down on the island, with authorities closing offices, schools, and evacuating thousands ahead of the storm’s arrival. The typhoon is expected to strike the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung, home to 2.7 million people, early Thursday morning. The storm, packing sustained wind speeds of 173 km/h (107 mph) and gusts up to 209 km/h (130 mph), has already brought heavy rain and strong winds to the region.
The Central Weather Administration reported that as of Wednesday morning, Typhoon Krathon was about 160 kilometers (99 miles) southwest of Kaohsiung. Officials are urging residents to remain indoors and avoid flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, particularly near rivers, the sea, and mountainous regions. In some of these areas, up to 80 centimeters (31 inches) of rainfall is expected. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai warned that Krathon could be as destructive as Typhoon Thelma, which struck the city in 1977, killing 37 people and injuring nearly 300.
Although typhoons typically hit Taiwan’s eastern, mountainous side, Krathon’s path toward the densely populated western coast has triggered widespread concern. In July, Typhoon Gaemi caused landslides and floods, resulting in 11 deaths. As a precaution, all cities and counties across Taiwan declared a day off on Wednesday, and nearly 10,000 residents from at-risk areas were evacuated.
Chou Yi-tang, a government official in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang district, where the city’s airport is located, noted that the typhoon had evoked painful memories of Thelma among the older population. More than 700 sandbags had already been distributed in his district, the highest number ever recorded for a typhoon. Local authorities were also working to clear storm drains in an effort to minimize flood risk.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has put nearly 40,000 troops on standby to respond to the storm’s impact. As of late Tuesday, officials reported 35 injuries related to the typhoon, although specific details were not provided.
Typhoon Krathon has already caused devastation in the northern Philippines, where at least one person died, approximately 5,000 people were displaced, and extensive flooding occurred. Typhoons are common in the Asia Pacific during this season, and a recent study has indicated that climate change is causing these storms to form closer to coastlines, intensify more rapidly, and linger longer over land.
