Taiwan Braces for Typhoon Krathon's Impact

Taiwan issued a land warning on Monday, September 30th, as Typhoon Krathon approached the island. The typhoon is expected to intensify and cross the densely populated west coast, bringing torrential rain and strong winds.

While Taiwan regularly experiences typhoons, they typically land along the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific. However, Krathon, categorized as a medium-strength typhoon, is forecast to hit the major port city of Kaohsiung early on Wednesday. It will then work its way across the bottom tip of Taiwan and cross out into the Pacific, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The typhoon is expected to further intensify into the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane, packing powerful winds of more than 220km/h near its center. "The impact is getting bigger and bigger," said Gene Huang, forecaster at the CWA, pointing to threats to Taiwan's southwest. He added that it was "rare" for such a powerful typhoon to make a direct hit to the island's western plains. Huang warned residents to be prepared for extreme winds of more than 150km/h.

Taiwanese authorities have mobilized over 1,000 rubber boats and 2,200 soldiers across the island, including on the eastern coast where up to 1.3m of rain is expected in the coming days. Boats to Taiwan's outlying islands have already been cancelled and some domestic flights have been disrupted.

In July, Typhoon Gaemi caused significant damage and claimed the lives of at least 11 people in Taiwan. The government is taking all necessary precautions to minimize the impact of Krathon and ensure the safety of its citizens.