Powerful Typhoon Kong-rey hits Taiwan, schools and offices closed

In Taipei, in northern Taiwan, before the passage of typhoon Kong-rey, October 31, 2024. STR / AFP The powerful typhoon Kong-rey began to hit Taiwan, Thursday, October 31, where schools and offices were closed and tens of thousands of soldiers were mobilized preventively before the arrival on the island of one of the strongest storms in years. The typhoon, accompanied by gusts reaching 184 km/h and torrential rains, made landfall at midday in the South-East, the least populated part of this island of 23 million inhabitants already in the grip of the monsoon , and where many people have already been evacuated. According to an initial report from the National Fire Agency, a 56-year-old woman died when an uprooted tree fell on her vehicle in Nantou county (in the center of the island). Seventy-three other people were also injured. Originally described as the strongest typhoon of the year, Kong-rey now has the same intensity as Typhoon Gaemi, the strongest storm to hit Taiwan in the last eight years, when it arrives in July 2024 With a radius of 320 kilometers, Kong-rey is considered the largest to make landfall in almost thirty years. Even before its arrival, waves 10 meters high were observed. More than a meter of rain could fall by Friday in the most affected regions. Forecasters have warned of “destructive” winds from Kong-rey, and nearly 35,000 troops are standing by to assist in relief operations. The streets of Taipei, plagued by heavy rains and strong winds, are largely deserted. The large Taiwanese technology group TSMC said it had “activated the usual typhoon alert preparation procedures” in its chip manufacturing factories and did not expect a “significant impact” on its activities. Third typhoon since July Typhoon Kong-rey approaching Taiwan in a satellite image provided by the Japan Meteorological Agency. HANDOUT / AFP As of Wednesday, dozens of ferry connections and domestic flights had been canceled and authorities had carried out evacuations in eight counties and cities, including Yilan, Hualien and Taitung. The storm is expected to weaken upon landfall and move toward the central mountains before exiting across the Taiwan Strait, according to Chu Mei-lin of the Central Meteorological Administration, who said it expected to “severely” affect the island until Friday morning. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang expressed concern over the fate of two Czech tourists who were hiking in the Taroko Gorge near Hualien and were unable to be reached on their phones on Wednesday. Taiwan is used to tropical storms, frequent from July to October, but it is “unusual for such a powerful typhoon to hit the island this late in the year,” notes meteorologist Chang Chun-yao. Climate change is increasing their intensity, with heavy downpours, flash floods and very strong gusts of wind, scientists say. Newsletter “Human heat” How to face the climate challenge? Every week, our best articles on the subject Subscribe Kong-rey will be the third typhoon to hit Taiwan since July. This summer, Gaemi killed ten people and injured hundreds, causing widespread flooding in the southern city of Kaohsiung. That typhoon was followed by Krathon, which swept across southern Taiwan in early October, bringing destructive winds, flooding and mudslides that left at least four dead and hundreds injured. Le Monde with AFP Reuse this content



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