A weakened and 'weird' Typhoon Krathon made landfall in southwestern Taiwan on Thursday, leading to a second day of financial market closures, grounding hundreds of flights, and resulting in two fatalities. Krathon struck as a Category 1 typhoon around midday in the major port city of Kaohsiung, causing widespread damage with fallen trees and streetlights, and sending debris flying through the air.
As heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surges coincided with high tide, the government urged residents to stay indoors. 'It's very powerful,' said Chou Yi-tang, a government official in Siaogang district, home to Kaohsiung's airport. 'It's been a long time since such a big storm made landfall here.' Fortunately, no major casualties were reported, with Chou adding, 'Fortunately, people were well prepared this time.'
Typhoons typically hit Taiwan's east coast facing the Pacific, but Krathon's direct hit on the west coast was unusual, leading Taiwan's media to label it a 'weird' storm. It also hovered off the coast before making landfall. Early in the morning, residents of Kaohsiung, a city of about 2.7 million people, received text messages warning them to seek shelter from gusts exceeding 160 kmph, while the port experienced record gusts of over 220 kmph.
Before the typhoon hit, Mayor Chen Chi-mai urged people to stay indoors, stating, 'If you don't have to, please avoid going out.' Over 100,000 homes lost electricity, with half of those in Kaohsiung, according to state-run utility Taipower. Taipei university student Liao Shian-rong, 24, came to Kaohsiung with classmates to study the storm, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The fire department reported two deaths due to the typhoon's torrential rains, both on the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast. Some eastern regions received over 1.6 meters of rain, causing landslides and road blockages. The Southern Taiwan Science Park, home to one of TSMC's main factories, reported normal operations. The typhoon is expected to weaken further by Friday, becoming a tropical depression over the central region.
All domestic flights were canceled for a second day, along with 242 international flights. The north-south high-speed rail line suspended services between central and southern regions until at least early evening. Taiwan's financial markets also remained closed for a second day. However, in Taipei, many shops and malls stayed open despite the squally rain showers.
The Kaohsiung government has been particularly cautious in its preparations since the last major storm in 1977, Typhoon Thelma, which killed 37 people and devastated the city. In a separate incident, officials in the southernmost county of Pingtung reported nine deaths in a hospital electrical fire, with the health ministry working during the typhoon to move patients to other facilities.
