KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP) — Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taiwan’s main port city of Kaohsiung on Thursday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the south of the island. Schools and businesses were closed as strong winds toppled trees and flooded roads.
The Krathon landslide occurred in Kaohsiung’s industrial Siaogang district at 12:40 p.m., the Central Meteorological Administration said. It had maximum gusts of 126 kph (78 mph) with gusts of 162 kph (101 mph).
The typhoon is forecast to slowly move north and weaken to a tropical depression by Friday before reaching the capital Taipei. It was expected to cross the Taiwan Strait towards the Chinese coast. Winds were strong in Taipei on Thursday, but there was little rain.
Kaohsiung earlier urged its residents to take shelter from the devastating winds and rain, which tore off storefronts and flooded parking lots, but there were no casualties.
The A slow moving tornadoApproaching Taiwan at a speed of about 4 km (2.5 mi), it has pummeled the eastern and southern parts of the island over the past five days, forcing thousands of people to flee mountainous or low-lying areas. The two-day shutdowns are believed to have significantly affected the island’s high-tech economy, which relies heavily on foreign trade.
Wind and heavy rain battered empty streets in Kaohsiung, while life was little affected in Taipei, 350 kilometers (215 miles) to the north.
Many residents woke up Thursday, urging mobile phone warnings to take shelter from dangerous winds. As the storm’s eye passed over their area and the weather calmed down for a while, the weather service warned residents of Kaohsiung and Pingdong districts not to go outside, as the winds would pick up again.
A woman battles the wind and rain created by Typhoon Krathon in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Xiang Ying-ying)
At least 123 people were injured around the island due to weather-related events caused by the craton, according to Taiwan’s fire department. Two people died – one after driving over rocks that fell on the road in southeastern Taitung County, and the other while cutting tree branches in Hualien City. Two more are missing.
A hospital fire in Pingdong County At least nine people were killed early Thursday morning. The deaths were attributed to smoke and an investigation into the cause is underway. It was not immediately clear if the fire was related to the tornado.
Thousands were evacuated from areas prone to mudslides and landslides. 40,000 soldiers are ready for rescue operations.
169 centimeters (5.5 feet) of rain fell in the last five days in mountainous areas in the south of the island.
Some eastern and southern parts of Taiwan are expected to receive up to 40 centimeters (1.3 feet) of heavy rain in the next 24 hours, the China Meteorological Agency said.
Typhoons rarely hit Taiwan’s west coast, instead affecting the mountainous eastern part of the island.
Kaohsiung officials urged residents to be weather-aware, recalling the devastation brought by Typhoon Telma, which badly damaged the city in 1977 and caused 37 deaths.
Earlier in the week, Typhoon Craton hit the northern Philippine IslandsFour people were killed and at least 5,000 displaced, officials said.
