Taiwan has suspended work and school on some outlying islands, while fishermen secured their boats as authorities warned that incoming Super Typhoon Kong-rey could cause landslides.
Strong gusts and heavy rainfall were anticipated to pound the 23 million-person island ahead of Kong-rey’s landfall in the southeast on Thursday afternoon.
As it approaches Taiwan, Kong-rey had maximum sustained winds of 240 kilometres (150 miles) per hour, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center’s most recent advisory.
According to the Central Weather Administration, Kong-rey was projected to bring the most rain to Taiwan’s eastern and northern coasts, as well as the mountains in the central and southern regions.
Yilan and the eastern county of Hualien were predicted to be struck the hardest, with accumulated rainfall ranging from 800 to 1,200 millimetres (31 to 47 inches), according to forecaster Chang Chun-yao.
Up to 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) of rainfall is expected in mountainous eastern Taiwan and destructive winds are likely to hit coastal areas on Thursday, according to the administration.
Classes and work were suspended on the two main islands of Taitung county, where the typhoon looks set to make a direct hit based on the storm’s current trajectory.
Ferry services between Taiwan’s outlying island of Kinmen and the Chinese port city of Xiamen were also halted.
Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but Chang said it was unusual for such a powerful typhoon to hit the island this late in the year.
Related posts:
Typhoon Faxai makes landfall in Tokyo
Typhoon Muifa to make landfall in Shanghai
Japan cancels flights, trains as Typhoon Lan expected to make landfall Tuesday
Typhoon Yagi intensifies, expected to make landfall across Northern Vietnam
Ogun State TV to commence transmission of digital classes for students at home
BREAKING: Students in exit classes to resume August 4
COVID-19: Schools in FCT resume for exit classes amid pandemic
UNILAG denies charging N50,000 for online classes, says information is false
