Taiwan is facing the brunt of Typhoon Kong-rey, an unusually late-season storm marking the most significant typhoon to strike the island in nearly 30 years. The powerful storm made landfall on Taiwan’s eastern coast at around 13:40 local time (04:40 GMT), resulting in the closure of schools and workplaces as residents prepared for severe weather.
Before hitting land, Kong-rey boasted wind gusts exceeding 200km/h, reminiscent of a Category 4 hurricane. Consequently, hundreds of flights and ferry services were suspended, along with Taiwan's stock exchange. As of Thursday afternoon, statistics reveal over 70 individuals have sustained injuries related to the storm, and at least one reported death—a 56-year-old woman who was killed when a tree fell on her vehicle.
Though the storm has weakened to a "moderate typhoon" by the evening, it still brought widespread power outages impacting half a million homes, according to Taiwan Power Company. Local agencies report they have received numerous disaster notifications from residents, but due to severe winds and rainfall, reaching those areas has proven challenging.
Historically, Taiwan's typhoon season spans from July to September, with the strongest storms typically contained within that timeframe. However, this year deviated from the norm, witnessing two monumental typhoons strike in October, with the earlier super typhoon Krathon resulting in four fatalities and over 700 injuries.
The unexpected timing of Kong-rey raised concern among those in Hualien, where residents reported they had never experienced such late-season storms in their 70 years of life. Ocean scientists indicated that recent near-record global sea surface temperatures have contributed to the storm's potency, as heat energy available in ocean waters sustains storm systems.
One of the more severe threats posed by typhoons is excessive rainfall, which often results in flooding and landslides. Forecasts predict that the eastern regions of Taiwan affected by Kong-rey could receive up to 1,200mm of rain between October 29 and November 1.
Taiwan's defense ministry has positioned 36,000 soldiers on standby for any necessary rescue operations, while over 8,600 individuals have already been evacuated from areas at high risk of disaster. President Lai Ching-te stressed the importance of safety during a morning briefing, advising residents to remain indoors and avoid high-risk locations such as coastal areas.
As the storm advances across Taiwan, it is anticipated to diminish in intensity, expected to exit the island by Friday, according to forecasts from the weather bureau.
