Typhoon Kong-rey Hits Taiwan as Most Powerful Storm in Decades

The powerful Category 3 storm has caused extensive evacuations and injuries as it hit with winds reaching 126 miles per hour.

Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday afternoon, marking the most powerful storm the island has experienced in nearly three decades. The Category 3 typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of about 126 miles per hour, prompted government authorities to take extensive precautionary measures, including closing schools, offices, and financial institutions, evacuating thousands, and grounding hundreds of flights.

According to Gene Huang from Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, Kong-rey’s winds and rain have already resulted in at least 73 reported injuries on the island. Tragically, a 56-year-old woman lost her life when a tree fell onto the truck she was in during the storm. As of Thursday morning, over 9,600 residents across 13 cities and counties had been evacuated, with dire weather warnings issued for the entire island.

Taiwan's Interior Ministry issued advisories for dangerous conditions, predicting sustained winds of 39 mph or higher, alongside threats of heavy rainfall that could reach nearly four feet in mountainous regions. A local resident in Taipei, Huang Shu-ting, reflected on the chaos by noting, "My plans are in chaos," as she gathered supplies to prepare for the storm.

The authorities have mobilized military resources to assist in recovery efforts, ensuring public safety as the storm continues to develop. As the storm’s path and impact become clearer in the coming days, the full extent of Kong-rey’s damage remains to be seen.