Taiwan’s KAOHSIUNG, October 2 (Reuters) – In anticipation of the approach of a weakening Typhoon Krathon, which is expected to cause massive flooding in the southern part of the island and one confirmed death, Taiwan closed on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of aircraft and closing schools, workplaces, and financial exchanges.
Authorities in the major port city of Kaohsiung, which was predicted to be in the storm’s path, advised residents to stay indoors and keep away from rivers, mountains, and the sea. They did this to prevent a repetition of Typhoon Thelma, which struck the 2.7 million-person city in 1977 and killed 37 people.
As the typhoon steadily moves closer to Taiwan’s shore, weather forecasters warned that even if it has lessened, there is still a risk of storm surge, severe gusts, and rain.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai of Kaohsiung stated that although the typhoon would lose force once it touched land, it would still deliver strong winds and rain.
“But if it moves north, the winds will strengthen again, so the threat to Kaohsiung will continue to exist, and people cannot take this lightly,” he stated to reporters.
The typhoon may weaken into a tropical depression once it reaches land, which has only happened in Taiwan once previously in 2001, according to forecasts. Massive flooding resulted from the enormous quantity of rain the storm, named Trami, dropped. The fire department recorded one fatality, an old man who fell from a tree in Hualien’s eastern county, two unaccounted for deaths, and seventy injuries.
All of the island’s counties and cities announced a day off on Wednesday, closing the financial markets (.TWII), opening a new tab, and canceling 246 international and domestic flights. Over 10,000 people were evacuated, primarily from the east and south.
Certain shopping centers and malls in Taipei were still open, and rain was only predicted later in the day.
Though Krathon is expected to make landfall in Taiwan’s flat western plain, typhoons frequently strike the country’s hilly and sparsely populated east coast that faces the Pacific.
According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), it is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and its neighboring city of Tainan early on Thursday morning before moving northeast and up towards Taipei, the capital.
“Everyone is more cautious and prepared this time around because Typhoon Gaemi was quite severe earlier this year,” Yu Ren-yu, 35, a sales worker, said as she picked up sandbags at a government office, alluding to the typhoon that struck in July and claimed eleven lives.
“First be prepared, then we can face this typhoon.”
Extra measures have been taken because the storm has brought back negative memories of Thelma for the elder generation, according to Chou Yi-tang, a government official employed at the airport’s Siaogang neighborhood.
He went on, “We were hit directly by the eyewall,” recalling incidents from over fifty years ago. “There was no water for nearly a month and no power for two weeks. It was a catastrophe.”
In his district, more than 700 sandbags have been distributed—a record for a typhoon—and more are being produced by the government to keep up with demand, according to Chou.
The Defense Ministry of Taiwan said that it has placed over 38,000 soldiers on alert.
Although services were reduced, the north-south high-speed train route remained operational.
The largest contract chipmaker in the world, TSMC (2330.TW), which opened a new tab, and key suppliers, Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Apple (AAPL.O), stated on Tuesday that they did not anticipate the storm having a substantial effect on business operations.
Some of TSMC’s plants are located in Tainan, while others are on the west coast.