A typhoon is slowly advancing toward Taiwan, bringing with it strong winds and torrential rainfall. Thousands of people have been evacuated from vulnerable low-lying or mountainous areas in anticipation of the storm's impact.
Coastal Taitung County has already experienced 93 centimeters (3 feet) of rain in the past four days, while the major port city of Kaohsiung has seen 29 centimeters (11.4 inches) of rainfall ahead of Typhoon Krathon.
The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds near the center of 173 kph (108 mph) and gusts of 209 kph (130 mph), is expected to make landfall early Thursday on Taiwan’s densely populated west coast, according to the island's Central Weather Administration.
Typhoons typically impact Taiwan's mountainous eastern side, but this storm is unusual in its trajectory toward the west coast. As a precautionary measure, authorities have closed schools, government offices, and canceled all domestic flights across the island.
Evacuations have been carried out in various regions, with over 3,000 people evacuated from vulnerable townships in eastern Hualien County, almost 200 individuals in Tainan, and more than 800 residents in Pingtung County.
The typhoon, currently located around 130 kilometers (81 miles) southwest of Kaohsiung, is moving northeastward at a speed of 8 kph (5 mph). It is expected to weaken further after making landfall.
Local officials have warned residents to stay away from flood-prone and landslide-prone areas near rivers, the sea, and mountains. The intensity of Typhoon Krathon has been likened to that of Typhoon Thelma, which caused significant devastation in Kaohsiung in 1977.
In preparation for rescue efforts, almost 40,000 troops are on standby. The typhoon previously impacted northern Philippine islands, resulting in four fatalities and displacing at least 5,000 individuals.
