Taiwan issued a warning on Monday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Krathon, which has intensified into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane and is expected to cross the densely populated west coast, bringing torrential rain and strong winds.

Taiwan frequently experiences typhoons, but they typically make landfall along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific. Krathon is forecast to strike the major port city of Kaohsiung early on Wednesday afternoon, then move across the center of Taiwan heading northeast and exit into the East China Sea, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The typhoon has strengthened into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, with powerful winds exceeding 210 kmph near its center, according to Tropical Storm Risk. "The impact is becoming increasingly significant," said Gene Huang, a forecaster at the CWA, noting the threats to Taiwan's southwest and adding that it was "uncommon" for such a powerful typhoon to directly hit the island's western plains. "It's unprecedented in history for a typhoon with such movement and intensity," Huang stated.

Huang warned residents to prepare for extreme winds of over 150 kmph. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai informed reporters that the city should brace itself for a destructive storm, with 1,690 people already evacuated from danger zones.

Taiwan authorities have mobilized more than 1,000 rubber boats and 15,000 soldiers across the island, including on the eastern coast where up to 1.3 meters of rain is expected in the coming days. "All military hospitals have established emergency medical teams and are ready to support at any time," said defense ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang.

Boats to Taiwan's outlying islands have been canceled, and some domestic flights have been disrupted. The rail line connecting southern Taiwan to the east coast ceased operations mid-afternoon Monday, though other services, including the north-south high-speed railway, were operating as normal, according to the transport ministry. International flights have not yet been impacted.

In July, Typhoon Gaemi claimed at least 11 lives in Taiwan.