Taiwan is on high alert as Super Typhoon Krathon, equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, bears down on the island. The storm, which has already battered the Philippines, is expected to make landfall near Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s major port city, on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning, CNN reports.
With winds reaching 150 mph), Krathon is predicted to bring heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surge, posing a significant threat to Taiwan.
Schools and offices across several counties have been closed as a precautionary measure. The Taiwanese military has been put on standby, and emergency responders are actively preparing for potential evacuations and rescues.
President Lai Ching-te issued a stark warning about the “catastrophic damage” that the storm could inflict.
“Everyone must be particularly vigilant,” he stressed during a visit to the Central Emergency Operations Center, established over the weekend to coordinate the typhoon response.
The storm, known locally as Julien in the Philippines, has already caused widespread damage across the country’s northernmost islands, prompting evacuations and severe flooding in coastal communities.
In Kaohsiung, authorities have already evacuated 1,690 people from high-risk areas. More than 15,000 Taiwanese soldiers are standing ready across the island to assist with evacuation and rescue efforts.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) has issued a sea and land typhoon warning for the southern and eastern parts of the island, highlighting the typhoon’s slow speed and its potential to bring torrential rains to the southeast.
Krathon will be the second typhoon to hit Taiwan this year, following Typhoon Gaemi in July, which claimed 11 lives. The island has a strong track record of responding to major typhoons, but remote villages in mountainous areas remain vulnerable to landslides.
Transportation services have already been disrupted, with some train services in eastern Taiwan suspended and a highway in Hualien County partially closed due to landslides.
Taiwan’s preparedness and experience in handling typhoons are being tested once again as the island braces for the impact of Krathon.
