Taipei: Taiwan braced for the impact of powerful Typhoon Kong-rey on Thursday, leading all cities and counties to declare a public holiday, with financial markets shut and hundreds of flights canceled. Expected to be the largest storm by size in over 30 years, Typhoon Kong-rey is forecasted to make landfall on the island’s mountainous east coast around 2:00 p.m. (0600 GMT), bringing strong winds and heavy rains that will affect almost the entire island, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
The typhoon, previously a super typhoon, weakened slightly overnight but still holds significant power. Currently rated as a Category 4 hurricane-equivalent, Kong-rey packs winds exceeding 250 kph (155 mph), as reported by Tropical Storm Risk. Taiwan’s weather bureau designated it a “strong typhoon,” the highest level of storm intensity for Taiwan, marking it as the largest typhoon to impact the island since 1996.
Gene Huang, an administration forecaster, stated that after making contact with the eastern coast, the storm would likely head towards the Taiwan Strait in a weakened state. He urged residents to remain indoors due to the severe weather conditions. “The size of the storm is very large and the winds are high,” he said, cautioning of potentially dangerous gusts and advising against any outdoor activities.
The eastern county of Taitung, especially its outlying Lanyu Island, recorded wind gusts of over 260 kph (162 mph) before some wind-measuring instruments went offline. Officials have warned of up to 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) of rainfall in eastern Taiwan, with destructive winds likely to impact coastal regions.
To ensure public safety, the defense ministry has mobilized 36,000 troops to assist with emergency responses. The government also reported that 1,300 residents had been preemptively evacuated from high-risk zones.
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major supplier to companies like Apple and Nvidia, announced that it had activated routine typhoon-preparedness procedures at all facilities and construction sites. “We do not expect significant impact to our operations,” the company stated in an email.
The transport ministry confirmed that 298 international flights were canceled, along with all domestic flights and 139 ferry services to and from outlying islands. Although Taiwan’s high-speed rail service, which connects key western cities, remains operational, it is running on a reduced schedule due to safety concerns.
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In addition, authorities urged residents to avoid mountainous and coastal areas. Typhoon Kong-rey is expected to graze China’s Fujian province along the coast on Friday morning.
While Taiwan frequently faces typhoons, the last severe event, Typhoon Krathon, led to four fatalities earlier this month as it swept through the southern parts of the island.
