Super typhoon Krathon tracker: Taiwan closes schools and cancels flights amid storm surge warning

As super typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, authorities have ordered widespread closures of schools and offices in six major cities and provinces, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung, Hualien, Taitung and Chiayi.

The storm is expected to make landfall tomorrow, bringing severe weather that could last into Thursday.

At least 85 domestic flights and several international routes, mainly those between Taiwan and Hong Kong, have been canceled as a precaution. Ferry services to remote islands have also been suspended until further notice.

Typhoon Krathon has continued to strengthen and has reached the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane as it slowly moves towards Taiwan’s southwestern coast. The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 198 km/h and gusts of up to 270 km/h.

This morning, Krathon was about 236 kilometers south-southeast of Kaohsiung and moving north at a slow pace of 4 km per hour.

Krathon is expected to make landfall in southwestern Taiwan tomorrow, with forecasts predicting the storm could be just 60 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung at 8 a.m. local time (midnight GMT).

The typhoon’s outer bands have already hit southern Taiwan, with heavy rains and strong winds hitting Pingtung and Taitung provinces and Kaohsiung city.

Off the southeast coast, Taiwan’s coast guard sent a boat to rescue 19 sailors from the cargo ship Blue Lagoon, who were forced to abandon the ship as it took on water in the engine room, while a rescue helicopter had to return due to the wind and storm. rain.

The coast guard said the crew included seven Ukrainians, nine Egyptians and three Russians, who had left China’s Caofeidian port for Singapore.

Taiwan today mobilized nearly 40,000 troops in preparation for search and rescue operations, with powerful Typhoon Krathon approaching its densely populated southwest coast and expected to cause a storm surge.

Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, but they usually land along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. However, it will make landfall on the flat western plain of the island.

Krathon is expected to reach the major port city of Kaohsiung on Wednesday morning, then work its way through central Taiwan in a northeasterly direction and reach the East China Sea, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.

Kaohsiung, home to some 2.7 million people, declared a public holiday and told people to stay home as Krathon – labeled a super typhoon by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center – approached.

Li Meng-hsiang, a forecaster from Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, said the storm has reached its maximum intensity and could weaken slightly as it gets closer to Taiwan. He warns of wind gusts of more than 150 km per hour in the southwest.

“The storm surge could bring the tides inland,” Li said. “If it rains heavily, it will be difficult to drain the water and as a result, coastal areas will be subject to flooding.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said it had put more than 38,000 troops on standby while Kaohsiung residents made their own preparations.

As Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, 521 people were evacuated from the mountainous regions of Kaohsiung today in anticipation of severe weather.

Local authorities issued landslide warnings for Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia and Liugui districts, prompting evacuations.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai inspected disaster preparedness measures including flood control systems and the city’s 91 pumping stations, Taiwan News reported.

Kaohsiung is bracing for heavy rainfall, with estimates of up to 800mm in the mountainous areas.

Schools have been moved online and 23,000 sandbags have been distributed across the city to help residents prepare for flooding.

As Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, 521 people were evacuated from the mountainous regions of Kaohsiung today in anticipation of severe weather.

Local authorities issued landslide warnings for Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia and Liugui districts, prompting evacuations.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai inspected disaster preparedness measures including flood control systems and the city’s 91 pumping stations, Taiwan News reported.

Kaohsiung is bracing for heavy rainfall, with estimates of up to 800mm in the mountainous areas.

Schools have been moved online and 23,000 sandbags have been distributed across the city to help residents prepare for flooding.