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.
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.
Typhoon Krathon warning expanded to 13 cities and counties
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) expanded typhoon warnings to cover 13 cities and counties, stretching from the southern tip of the island up to Miaoli in the north.
As of 1.15pm local time (5.15am GMT), Typhoon Krathon was located 130 kilometres southwest of Kaohsiung, moving north-northeast at 8 kilometres per hour.
The outer rim of the storm has already engulfed Taitung and extended up the west coast as far as Yunlin, with bands of heavy rain and strong winds posing a significant threat to areas further north.
The cities and counties under the warning include Nantou, Chiayi County, Chiayi City, Pingtung, Changhua, Penghu, Taichung, Tainan, Taitung, Hualien, Miaoli, Yunlin, and Kaohsiung.
Authorities are asking residents across these regions to prepare for potential flooding, landslides, and storm surges as Typhoon Krathon makes its slow approach towards southwestern Taiwan, with landfall possible either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Why is Typhoon Krathon's landfall rare?
Typhoon Krathon is set to make an unprecedented landfall on Taiwan’s heavily populated west coast near Kaohsiung, bringing flooding and disruption to the region’s industrial and semiconductor sectors.
“Normally, typhoons in the western Pacific (especially in a place like Taiwan) track from east to west across this area,” Jon Davis, chief meteorologist at Everstream Analytics, said.
This is partly why Taiwan's population is densely concentrated on its west coast and very few people live on the Pacific east coast – which receives the brunt of most storms.
"Typhoon Krathon is going to take a track and make landfall on the west coast of Taiwan near Kaohsiung based on the latest data,” he said.
Krathon’s west coast track is rare, with no major typhoon (Category 3 or higher) making landfall near Kaohsiung in the past 34 years, Mr Davis said.
“This will be an unprecedented event for the southwest portion of Taiwan," he told The Independent.
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.
Typhoon Krathon brings back memories of Thelma
Residents in Taiwan were collecting sandbags, taping glass windows and stocking groceries as authorities urged people to stay at home.
"Because of Typhoon Gaemi being quite severe earlier this year, everyone is more cautious and prepared this time around," sales representative Yu Ren-yu, 35, told Reuters, picking up sandbags at a government office, referring to July's storm that killed 11 people.
"First be prepared, then we can face this typhoon."
People are very prepared this time, said Chou Yi-tang, a government official working in the Siaogang district home to the airport.
For many older residents, the storm brought back memories of the devastation caused by Typhoon Thelma five decades ago.
"We were hit directly by the eyewall," he added, describing events of Typhoon Thelma. "Power was out for two weeks and no water for almost a month. It was disastrous."
More than 700 sandbags have been distributed in his district, a record for a typhoon, while authorities are making more to meet demand, he told the agency.
Photos: Passengers wait at airports amid cancellations and delays
Typhoon Krathon brings intense heat to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is under intense heat due to Typhoon Krathon as it inches close to Taiwan.
Temperatures soared to around 35 degrees Celsius in several areas of the city.
This unusually high heat is attributed to the typhoon's influence combined with the northeast monsoon expected to sweep through the region.
Although the typhoon is not expected to come close to Hong Kong, the city's weather department issued a "very hot weather warning", advising residents to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor physical activities to prevent heatstroke.
One missing and least 46 people injured in Taiwan
The fire department has reported 46 injuries, mostly in the mountainous eastern county of Taitung, where relentless rainfall and some mudslides have been recorded since Sunday.
One person is also reported missing in the central county of Yunlin.
Hundreds of flights cancelled in Taiwan
Hundreds of international flights have been grounded and all domestic travel was stopped today amid Typhoon Krathon in Taiwan.
From yesterday, several airlines were cancelling or rescheduling their flights from Taiwan amid extreme weather.
At least 246 international flights are grounded today, according to Reuters.
Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has cancelled flights between its home base and Taiwan from Tuesday to Friday, according to a press release from the company.
Taiwan's Starlux also rescheduled its flights for later, adding that further changes can be announced later.
The storm has also caused disruptions to train lines. Taiwan's north-south high-speed rail remains operational, though services have been reduced. However, Taiwan Railways has suspended several trains on both the eastern and western lines, including all services on the South Link Railway.
Ferry services have also been halted amid rough seas.
Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Krathon
Taiwan has shut down schools, offices and financial markets today ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Krathon.
Officials in the key port city of Kaohsiung, set to be in the eye of the storm, told people to stay home and avoid the sea, rivers and mountains, warning of a repeat of 1977’s Typhoon Thelma that killed 37 and devastated the city of 2.7 million.
All the island’s cities and counties declared a day off while more than 10,000 people were evacuated, mostly in the south and east.
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