Taiwan has shut down schools and closed its financial markets on Wednesday as Typhoon Krathon pounded its south and east with torrential rains and winds ahead of its expected landfall.
Krathon, packing sustained wind speeds of 173 kilometres (107 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 209 kph, was 130 kilometres southwest of the major port city Kaohsiung as of 12:00 pm (0400 GMT), the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said.
The typhoon, downgraded overnight to medium from strong under Taiwan’s measurement system, is now expected to arrive near Kaohsiung or Tainan on Thursday morning, the agency said, a day later than previously forecast.
“This typhoon is moving very slowly. The time of its landfall continues to be delayed. The latest forecast is that the typhoon’s centre will make landfall at about 10:00 am tomorrow,” said CWA chief Cheng Chia-ping.
Offices and schools across the island were closed and the interior ministry said more than 10,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas as a precaution.
Premier Cho Jung-tai urged the public to stay at home during the typhoon and remain vigilant.
“Krathon is moving very slowly, which also prolongs the time it may cause damage to Taiwan…. It is necessary to strengthen vigilance in the south and the eastern areas affected by continuous rainfall.”
All domestic flights and ferry services were cancelled Wednesday, and around 250 international flights were suspended.
Nearly 40,000 troops were on standby for relief efforts, the defence ministry said.
Across Taiwan, 46 typhoon-related injuries had been reported as of Wednesday and one person in western Yunlin county was reported missing after falling into the sea, authorities said.
Typhoons are common around the region at this time of year.
However, a recent study showed that they are increasingly forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change.
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