Super Krathon Brings Taiwan to Standstill

Typhoon Krathon Hits Taiwan - 2 Dead

“It is very powerful. It's been a long time since such a big storm made a landfall here.”

Typhoon Krathon hits Taiwan: 2 dead, 100,000 homes without power, all domestic & 242 international flights canceled. Get the latest updates.

A devastating blow struck southwestern Taiwan as Typhoon Krathon made landfall on Thursday, October 3, claiming at least two lives and bringing economic activities to a standstill for the second consecutive day.

The storm, which weakened to a Category 1 typhoon, hit the key port city of Kaohsiung at noon. Residents received urgent text alerts warning of powerful winds exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph). The port recorded record-breaking gusts of over 220 km/h (137 mph), leaving a trail of destruction.

Key Updates:

Fatalities: At least 2 confirmed deaths

Landfall: Kaohsiung port city, Thursday, October 3

Wind Speeds: Up to 160 km/h (100 mph), with gusts reaching 220 km/h (137 mph)

Economic Impact: Second consecutive day of halted economic activities.

Two deaths have been reported in Taiwan as Typhoon Krathon ravaged the island with heavy rains, particularly in the eastern regions. The fatalities occurred due to accidents involving a fallen tree and a vehicle struck by a rock.

According to Chou Yi-tang, an official in Siaogang district, which houses Kaohsiung's airport, Typhoon Krathon's force was remarkable: “It is very powerful. It's been a long time since such a big storm made a landfall here.”

Typhoon Krathon's relentless assault on Taiwan forced the closure of financial markets, offices, and schools for the second day in a row, as powerful winds and torrential rains disrupted daily life.

The storm's impact on infrastructure was significant:

Over 100,000 homes lost power, with approximately half in Kaohsiung, reported Taipower, the state-run utility.

Domestic flights remained grounded for the second consecutive day.

242 international flights were suspended.

In a tragic unrelated incident, a hospital fire in Pingtung County, Taiwan, claimed nine lives due to an electrical issue. Soldiers from a nearby base swiftly responded to support medical staff and firefighters in:

• Evacuating patients
• Combating the blaze

Separate reports indicated that the hospital's electrical system malfunctioned, sparking the deadly fire.

The inclement weather led to the cancellation of all domestic flights and 242 international flights for the second day.