Typhoon Krathon, a formidable storm equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, is barreling towards Taiwan’s densely populated western coast, with landfall expected near the major port city of Kaohsiung on Wednesday. The typhoon is packing sustained winds of 198 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 270 km/h.
In anticipation, authorities have deployed nearly 40,000 troops for potential rescue missions. Schools and offices across six major cities and counties are closed, over 80 flights have been canceled, and ferry services to outlying islands have been suspended. The storm is forecasted to bring torrential rain, with mountainous areas seeing up to 350 mm, and significant coastal flooding due to the storm surge.
What makes Typhoon Krathon particularly noteworthy is its rare western trajectory, as most typhoons that hit Taiwan typically impact the eastern coast. Residents have been advised to brace for potential flooding and power outages. Comparisons are being drawn to Typhoon Thelma, which caused widespread devastation in 1977. Taiwan’s infrastructure, including semiconductor giant TSMC, has activated emergency measures to minimize disruption.