Taipei: Taiwan issued a land warning on Monday in anticipation of Typhoon Krathon, which is expected to strengthen as it approaches the island’s heavily populated west coast, bringing with it torrential rain and powerful winds.
While Taiwan is no stranger to typhoons, these storms typically make landfall along the sparsely populated, mountainous eastern coast that faces the Pacific Ocean. Krathon, currently classified as a medium-strength typhoon, is projected to make landfall in the major port city of Kaohsiung early Wednesday. From there, it is expected to move across Taiwan’s southern tip before heading back into the Pacific, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).
The typhoon is forecast to intensify to the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum wind speeds exceeding 220 km/h (125 mph) near its center, based on data from Tropical Storm Risk.
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“The impact is getting bigger and bigger,” said Gene Huang, a forecaster at the CWA, emphasizing the heightened threat to Taiwan’s southwestern region. He also noted that it is “rare” for such a powerful typhoon to directly strike the island’s western plains. Huang urged residents in the region to brace for extreme winds, potentially exceeding 150 km/h (93 mph).
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Taiwanese authorities have deployed more than 1,000 rubber boats and stationed 2,200 soldiers across the island, including on the eastern coast, where rainfall could reach up to 1.3 meters (four feet) over the coming days. Several boat services to Taiwan’s outlying islands have already been canceled, and some domestic flights have been disrupted due to the approaching storm.
