Super Typhoon Krathon Tracker: Taiwan closes schools and cancels flights due to storm surge warning

Taiwan's TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said it activated its routine typhoon preparedness procedures ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Krathon and did not expect a significant impact on its operations.

As Typhoon Krathon approached Taiwan's southwest coast, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai compared the storm's potential devastation to Typhoon Thelma in 1977, which left Kaohsiung without water and power and caused the deaths of 37 people.

“After the typhoon, the whole of Kaohsiung was like a war without water and electricity,” Mr. Chen said, urging residents to stay indoors. “Limit going out as much as possible.”

According to Li Meng-hsiang, a Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster, Krathon has peaked but could weaken slightly before landfall.

“The storm surge could bring tides inland,” Li warned. “If it rains heavily, it will be difficult to drain the water, resulting in flooding in coastal areas.”

Taiwan's Defense Ministry has mobilized 38,000 soldiers for rescue and relief operations.

As Super Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, authorities have ordered widespread closures of schools and offices in six major cities and counties, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, Pingtung, Hualien, Taitung and Chiayi.

The storm is expected to make landfall tomorrow, bringing severe weather that could last into Thursday.

At least 85 domestic flights and several international routes, particularly between Taiwan and Hong Kong, were canceled as a precautionary measure. Ferry traffic to the offshore islands has also been suspended until further notice.

Typhoon Krathon has continued to strengthen, reaching the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane as it slowly moves toward Taiwan's southwest coast. The typhoon brings maximum sustained wind speeds of 198 km/h and gusts of up to 270 km/h.

This morning, Krathon was located approximately 236 kilometers south-southeast of Kaohsiung and was moving north at a slow speed of 4 km/h.

Krathon is expected to make landfall in southwestern Taiwan tomorrow. Forecasts suggest the storm could be just 60 kilometers south-southwest of Kaohsiung by 8 a.m. local time (midnight GMT).

The typhoon's outer bands have already begun to hit southern Taiwan, with heavy rains and strong winds affecting Pingtung and Taitung counties as well as Kaohsiung city.

Off the southeast coast, Taiwan's coast guard dispatched a boat to rescue 19 sailors from the cargo ship Blue Lagoon, who had to abandon the ship because it had accumulated water in the engine room. A rescue helicopter had to turn back because of windy rain.

According to the Coast Guard, the crew consisted of seven Ukrainians, nine Egyptians and three Russians who had set off from the Chinese port of Caofeidian to Singapore.

Taiwan mobilized nearly 40,000 troops today to prepare for search and rescue operations as powerful Typhoon Krathon approached its populous southwest coast and was expected to bring a storm surge.

Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, but they generally land on the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific, but this will make landfall on the island's flat western plain.

Krathon is expected to reach the major port city of Kaohsiung on Wednesday morning, then move northeast through central Taiwan and enter the East China Sea, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.

Kaohsiung, home to around 2.7 million people, declared a holiday and urged people to stay home as Krathon – dubbed a super typhoon by the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center – approached.

Li Meng-hsiang, a forecaster with Taiwan's Central Meteorological Administration, said the storm had reached its maximum intensity and could weaken slightly as it approaches Taiwan, warning of gusts of more than 150 kph (93 mph) in the southwest.

“The storm surge could bring tides inland,” said Mr. Li. “If it rains heavily, it will be difficult to drain the water and as a result, flooding will occur in coastal areas.”

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it had placed more than 38,000 troops on standby while Kaohsiung residents made their own preparations.

As Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, 521 people were evacuated from the mountainous areas of Kaohsiung today in anticipation of severe storms.

Local authorities issued landslide warnings for Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia and Liugui counties, prompting evacuations.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai inspected disaster preparedness measures, including flood control systems and the city's 91 pumping stations, Taiwan News reported.

Kaohsiung is expecting heavy rainfall, with estimates of up to 800 mm in the mountainous regions.

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