Typhoon Krathon made landfall this Thursday at midday in southern Taiwan, the island’s meteorological agency announced, after causing strong gusts of wind and rain that left two dead and more than 100 wounded.
“Typhoon Krathon made landfall near Xiaogang District in Kaohsiung at around 12:40 p.m. today” (0440 GMT), the Taiwan Central Meteorological Administration (CWA) said in a message posted on the Line app. . During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, this typhoon, accompanied by winds of 144 km/h with gusts of up to 180 km/h, was downgraded from the third and highest category to the second.
“Krathon moves very slowly”
The government had already announced that offices and schools on the island would remain closed on Thursday. Around ten thousand people were evacuated as a precaution from areas considered at risk. Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai had urged Taiwanese to stay home and be vigilant: “Krathon moves very slowly, which extends the time during which it can cause damage to Taiwan.”
The authorities recorded two deaths, two missing and more than 100 injured and reported the temporary interruption of electricity supply to nearly 55,000 homes.
Furthermore, all domestic flights, canceled on Wednesday, will remain so on Thursday while 250 international flights have already been suspended since yesterday. Nearly 40,000 soldiers are standing ready to take part in possible relief operations, the Defense Ministry said.
