Taiwan Braces for Impact as Typhoon Krathon Approaches with Category 4 Strength

Taiwan issued a warning on Monday as Typhoon Krathon, now a powerful Category 4 hurricane, approaches the island. The storm is expected to bring torrential rain and strong winds, threatening densely populated areas along Taiwan’s west coast.

While Taiwan frequently experiences typhoons, they usually make landfall along the less populated, mountainous eastern coast. Typhoon Krathon, however, is forecast to strike the major southern port city of Kaohsiung early Wednesday afternoon, marking an unusual and potentially dangerous path. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said the typhoon would then move across central Taiwan, heading northeast before exiting into the East China Sea.

According to Tropical Storm Risk, Krathon is packing winds exceeding 210 km/h, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. Gene Huang, a forecaster at the CWA, emphasized the unprecedented nature of this storm. “The impact is getting bigger and bigger,” Huang noted, highlighting the serious threats to southwestern Taiwan. “It’s a first in history for a typhoon with such movement and intensity.”

Residents of Kaohsiung and other areas in the storm’s path have been urged to prepare for extreme conditions, including winds over 150 km/h. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai warned of a “major disaster” for the city and surrounding mountainous regions. As of Monday, 1,690 people had already been evacuated from high-risk zones.

Authorities across Taiwan are ramping up preparations ahead of the storm. Over 1,000 rubber boats and 15,000 soldiers have been placed on standby, with special attention to eastern coastal areas, where up to 1.3 meters of rain is expected. Defence Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang said military hospitals have set up emergency medical teams ready to respond as needed.

Transportation services have begun to feel the effects of the approaching storm. Boats to Taiwan’s outlying islands have been canceled, and some domestic flights have faced disruptions. Additionally, the rail line connecting southern Taiwan to the east coast was suspended on Monday afternoon. However, the high-speed rail between the north and south continues to operate as usual, the transport ministry reported.

With Typhoon Krathon’s landfall looming, Taiwan braces for what could be one of the most destructive storms in recent memory, as authorities and residents prepare for the worst.