Super typhoon Kraton tracking: Taiwan closes schools and cancels flights after receiving storm surge warning

Taiwan’s TSMC, the world’s largest contract semiconductor manufacturer, said it had activated regular typhoon preparation procedures ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Kraton and did not expect any material impact on its operations.

As Typhoon Kraton approaches Taiwan’s southwest coast, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chimei echoes the storm’s potential damage to Typhoon Thelma, which left Kaohsiung without water and electricity and killed 37 people. I likened it.

“After the typhoon, the entire city of Kaohsiung was without water or electricity, and it felt like a war,” Chen said, urging residents to stay indoors. “Please refrain from going out as much as possible.”

Li Mengxiang, a forecaster with the Central Weather Administration (CWA), said the craton’s strength has reached its peak, but it may weaken slightly before making landfall.

“Storm surge could cause inland flooding,” Lee warned. “If there is heavy rain, it will be difficult to release water and there is a risk that coastal areas will be flooded.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has mobilized 38,000 troops for rescue and relief operations.

As super typhoon Kraton approaches Taiwan, authorities have ordered widespread closures of schools and offices across six major cities and counties, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung, Hualien, Taitung and Chiayi.

The storm is expected to make landfall tomorrow, and the severe weather could continue into Thursday.

At least 85 domestic flights and some international flights, particularly those connecting Taiwan and Hong Kong, have been canceled as a precautionary measure. Ferries to remote islands will also be suspended until further notice.

Typhoon Craton has further developed, reaching the level of a Category 4 hurricane, and is slowly moving towards the southwest coast of Taiwan. The typhoon packs sustained winds of up to 198 km/h and gusts of up to 270 km/h.

This morning, the craton is located about 236 kilometers south-southeast of Kaohsiung and is moving north at a slow pace of 4 kilometers per hour.

Craton is expected to make landfall in southwestern Taiwan tomorrow, with forecasts predicting the storm could reach just 60 kilometers south-southwest of Kaohsiung by 8 a.m. local time (midnight Japan time). are.

The outer band of the typhoon has already begun to affect southern Taiwan, with heavy rain and strong winds affecting Pingtung County, Taitung County, and Kaohsiung City.

Off the southeast coast, Taiwan’s coast guard sent a boat to rescue the 19 crew members of the cargo ship Blue Lagoon. The sailors were forced to abandon the ship due to flooding in the engine room, and the rescue helicopter had to turn back due to heavy winds. rain.

According to the coast guard, the crew of seven Ukrainians, nine Egyptians and three Russians left China’s Caofeidian port for Singapore.

Taiwan today mobilized about 40,000 troops in preparation for search and rescue operations as powerful Typhoon Kraton approaches its populous southwest coast and is expected to bring storm surge.

Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, which usually make landfall along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific Ocean, but this time the typhoon made landfall on the flat western plains of the island. Masu.

The craton is expected to make landfall in the main port city of Kaohsiung on Wednesday morning, then head northeast, across central Taiwan and into the East China Sea, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.

Kaohsiung, a city of about 2.7 million people, declared a holiday and urged people to stay home as Clayton, classified as a super typhoon by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center, approaches.

Li Meng-hsiang, a forecaster at Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, said the storm’s strength had reached its maximum strength and could weaken slightly as it approached Taiwan, with winds gusting over 150 km/h (93 mph) in the southwest. warned that it could blow.

“Storm surge could cause inland flooding,” Lee said. “Heavy rains can make drainage difficult and result in flooding of coastal areas.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said more than 38,000 troops were on standby as Kaohsiung residents made their own preparations.

As Typhoon Kraton approaches Taiwan, 521 people have been evacuated from the mountainous areas of Kaohsiung City today in anticipation of bad weather.

Local authorities issued landslide warnings and urged evacuations for Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia and Liugui areas.

Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chimei inspected disaster prevention measures such as flood control systems and 91 pumping stations in the city, Taiwan News reported.

Kaohsiung City is bracing for heavy rain, with up to 800mm of rain expected in mountainous areas.

Schools were moved online and 23,000 sandbags were distributed across the city to help residents prepare for flooding.