Typhoon Krathon – live: Taiwan tells millions to seek shelter as slow-moving storm makes landfall
Hundreds of international flights disrupted for third day
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Residents in Taiwan were told to seek shelter as Typhoon Krathon made landfall in Taiwan, with the island fully shut for the second day.
Krathon, a slow moving storm which has been lashing Taiwan since Monday, slammed into the major port city Kaohsiung as a much weaker Category 1 typhoon around midday.
Early this morning residents in the city of some 2.7 million people received texted warnings telling them to seek shelter from gusts of more than 160 kmph (100 mph).
At least two people have died in Taiwan from extreme weather caused by Krathon, both elderly men.
Earlier, two people were killed in the Philippines when the storm lashed the northern islands of the archipelago.
All domestic flights were cancelled for a second day, as well as 236 international ones. The north-south high speed rail line suspended services and Taiwan’s financial markets also closed for a second day.
The typhoon is forecast to slowly work its way up Taiwan’s flat western plain and weaken further into a tropical depression by late Friday before reaching the capital Taipei.
Millions warned to take shelter
This morning, residents in Kaohsiung, a city of some 2.7 million people, received texted warnings telling them to seek shelter from gusts of more than 160 kmph (100 mph).
"It's so windy now that I do not dare to go out and inspect my neighbourhood," Lin Tsai-wang, a resident of the downtown Sanmin district, told Reuters.
Typhoons often hit Taiwan's east coast facing the Pacific, but Krathon is unusual in that it will directly hit the west coast.
The Kaohsiung government has been particularly cautious in its preparations given that the last time it was struck by such a storm in 1977, Typhoon Thelma killed 37 people and devastated the city.
When is Typhoon Krathon making landfall in Taiwan?
Krathon is forecast to make landfall as a much weaker Category 2 typhoon around midday at the major southwestern port city of Kaohsiung.
It is now slightly weakened but still a powerful Category 3-equivalent storm with sustained wind speeds of 173kmph and gusts of up to 209kmph.
The typhoon is forecast to slowly work its way up Taiwan’s flat western plain and weaken further into a tropical depression by late Friday before reaching the capital Taipei.
Hundreds of international flights disrupted for third day
This is the third day of travel disruptions in Taiwan as Typhoon Krathon brought the city to a full closure again.
Since Tuesday, flights have been getting delayed and cancelled and Taiwan has been on a full shut down since yesterday.
Today again, all domestic flights were cancelled as well as 236 international ones.
The north-south high speed rail line suspended services from central to southern Taiwan until early evening.
Taiwan's financial markets also closed for a second day.
Two dead in Taiwan
The death toll from extreme weather caused by Typhoon Krathon is now at two, officials confirmed.
Another elderly man lost his life after a boulder fell on his car.
Earlier, a 70 year old man died after falling from a tree.
The storm has already killed two people in the Philippines.
Taiwan shuts down for another day as Typhoon Krathon nears
Taiwan remains shut for a second day as Typhoon Krathon continues to batter the island before its landfall.
Schools, offices and financial institution were shut across the island yesterday and remain shut today.
This is the second time in a year when Taiwan has had to shut its financial market for two days.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall around noon.
Video: Typhoon Krathon's formation and march over Philippines and Taiwan
Will Typhoon Krathon impact Taipei?
Krathon is forecast to make landfall near Kaohsiung or Tainan city either tonight or tomorrow morning local time, and from there it is projected to move northeast toward Taipei over the next day or so.
While the storm is expected to weaken as it moves inland, it could still cause significant damage, particularly due to heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds.
Authorities have issued extreme rain and wind warnings for multiple regions, with storm surge risks persisting along the coast.
Offices, schools, and businesses across Taiwan, including the financial market in Taipei is already shut as a precaution.
Mapped: Typhoon Krathon path and rainfall forecast
Mapped: Typhoon Krathon heads to Taiwan after lashing Philippines
Meteorologists warn it is ‘rare’ for such a powerful typhoon to make a direct hit on Taiwan’s western plains
Typhoon Krathon leaves two dead and over 77,000 afftected in the Philippines
At least two people are confirmed dead and over 77,000 people were affected in the Philippines after Typhoon Krathon caused significant devastation in the northern part of the archipelago.
One person was electrocuted in Cagayan province, and another fatality was reported in Ilocos Sur, according to Xinhua news agency.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council confirmed that Krathon, which intensified into a super typhoon earlier this week, brought winds of 195 kmph and gusts reaching 240 kmph.
The storm’s impact has left widespread damage across three regions as it continues to slowly moves north-northwestward towards Taiwan’s highly populated industrial hub, maintaining its strength.
No major impact from Typhoon Krathon, chip maker says
TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple and Nvidia supplier, said it did not expect the typhoon would have a significant impact on operations.
TSMC’s factories are along the west coast, where the typhoon is set to make a rare landfall, some in the city of Tainan.
Most typhoons impact the southeastern parts of Taiwan and the western parts, which house some of the biggest companies and millions of people, remain safe from impacts.
However, experts have expressed concerns that Krathon’s path could cause disruption to Taiwan’s financial hubs.
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