A ride-hailing driver in Taiwan recounted a harrowing escape from a falling tree as Typhoon Kong-rey swept across the island, causing widespread damage and leaving two people dead, The Associated Press reports.
Song Zi-jie, who had just dropped off passengers in Taipei on Thursday night, was stopped at a red light when a tree uprooted by the typhoon’s strong winds crashed onto the passenger compartment of his car.
The typhoon, which weakened to a tropical storm after leaving Taiwan, brought heavy rain and windy conditions to Shanghai and nearby parts of China’s east coast. Kong-rey, a Cambodian name, was heading northeast along the Chinese coast with winds of 83 kilometers (52 miles) per hour and was expected to make landfall in Zhejiang province before veering back out to sea.
The storm claimed two lives and injured over 500 people in Taiwan. Authorities in the eastern province of Hualien confirmed that a Czech couple who had been reported missing after setting up a tent in Taroko National Park were found safe and in good condition.
In Taipei, workers cleared fallen trees and restored public services on Friday, allowing schools and offices to reopen.
The typhoon’s passage comes just days after Tropical Storm Trami caused devastating flooding and landslides in the Philippines, resulting in at least 145 deaths. Intense rainfall associated with Trami also claimed seven lives in China’s Hainan province, known for its beach resorts.
