Super Typhoon Kong-Rey Makes Landfall in Taiwan
Waves caused by Typhoon Kong-king crash into graffiti in Taitung, Taiwan. Oct. 31, 2024. X/ @xxdisclosurexx
October 31, 2024 Hour: 12:33 pm
Over 9,600 people have been evacuated from 13 counties and cities.
On Thursday, Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in eastern Taiwan and continues advancing with winds of over 220 kilometers per hour (km/h), equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
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Taiwan’s Central Weather Agency (CWA) reported that the storm struck near the township of Chenggong in eastern Taitung County shortly after 1:40 p.m. local time, with sustained winds of 183.6 km/h at its center and gusts reaching up to 226.8 kilometers per hour.
With an approximate radius of 320 kilometers, this storm is the largest to hit the island since Typhoon Herb, which, between July and August of 1996, left over 800 dead as it swept through Taiwan, China, and Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
As of 4:15 p.m. local time, Kong-rey was located in Zhongpu, in the mountainous region of central Taiwan, without any loss of intensity since making landfall. The meteorological agency estimates that the storm will reach the Taiwan Strait by nightfall, downgraded to a lower-category typhoon.
The CWA maintains a typhoon warning for both land and sea across the island, including the outlying archipelagos of Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, and has issued warnings for “extremely heavy rains” in six regions: Hsinchu, Taichung, Nantou, Taitung, Hualien, and Yilan.
So far, the storm has resulted in one death and 73 injuries, according to the Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC), which also reported that more than 9,600 people have been evacuated from 13 counties and cities.
The storm has caused flooding, landslides, and fallen trees and traffic signs in various parts of the island, particularly along its eastern coast, where approximately 5 percent of Taiwan’s population resides.
Additionally, over 461,000 homes have experienced power outages, and more than 275,800 of them remained without power as of 3:00 p.m., according to state-owned utility company Taipower, which deployed nearly 10,000 workers to restore service as soon as possible.
Authorities decided to suspend classes and office work due to the storm, which has also led to the cancellation of over 500 domestic and international flights and a reduction in high-speed train services.
Taiwan is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Earlier this month, Typhoon Krathon left at least four dead, over 700 injured, and caused millions of dollars in damage to the island’s agricultural sector.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: EFE – Xinhua
