Two Dies After Typhoon Krathon Lumbers Into Southern Taiwan

Two people died after a typhoon slammed into southwestern Taiwan, deluging the major port city of Kaohsiung with heavy rain and forcing the island to shut down for a second day.

With winds of up to 135 kilometres per hour (85 miles per hour), Typhoon Krathon made landfall along southern Taiwan shortly after noon on Thursday, the equivalent of a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane.

Two people died, and 219 injuries have been reported, according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operations Centre, adding that one person is also missing.

One was a 66-year-old driver hit by falling rocks. The other was a 70-year-old man who fell while trimming a tree during the typhoon, according to the centre.

For several hours before making landfall, Krathon moved slowly along the southern coast. In previous days, it had hovered between Taiwan and the Philippines as a Category 4 equivalent, with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te warning of “catastrophic damage.”

While the storm has since weakened, it has battered Taiwan with a deluge, forcing the closure of schools and the stock market earlier this week. Hundreds of flights have been suspended, and as of 3 p.m. close to 100,000 households faced power outages, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

A wide swath of 250-500 mm (10-20 inches) with isolated totals over a meter (40 inches) have occurred from Krathon. Additional rainfall of 250 – 500 mm (10-20 inches) is possible from Krathon as it meanders over and near Taiwan.

Schools and offices were once again closed across Taiwan on Thursday. More than 38,000 Taiwanese soldiers are on standby to help in case of emergencies.

Kaohsiung officials warned of the impact of Krathon’s slow pace. “If it passes very slowly and even stops at Kaohsiung and the Tainan areas, it could lengthen its damage on Kaohsiung,” mayor Chen Chi-mai told reporters on Thursday.

“Please avoid going out,” he added.

CNN/Shakirat Sadiq