Taiwan is on high alert as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches and has put up a complete shutdown across the island.
As per the news agency Reuters, all cities and counties declared a day off, closing schools, offices, and financial markets. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and thousands of residents have been evacuated in anticipation of what is expected to be the largest storm to hit Taiwan in 30 years.
Typhoon Kong-rey is forecast to make landfall on Thursday around 2:00 pm (local time) along Taiwan’s eastern coast, with meteorologists indicating that it could hit as a Category 4 hurricane, packing winds of up to 132 mph (approximately 250 kph).
Although the storm has slightly weakened, it remains highly powerful, classified by Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) as a “strong typhoon,” the highest category for storms impacting the island.
Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai warned on social media that the typhoon’s rapid movement would bring intense winds and heavy rainfall, with predictions of up to 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) of rain in eastern regions.
According to CWA forecaster Gene Huang, after making landfall, Kong-rey is expected to weaken as it moves west towards the Taiwan Strait.
The CWA has also alerted citizens to stay away from mountainous areas and coastal regions due to the imminent danger.
To aid in recovery efforts, the Taiwanese government has mobilised 36,000 military personnel. Approximately 1,300 people from high-risk areas have already been evacuated.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), a leading global supplier for companies like Apple and Nvidia, activated its routine typhoon preparations across all factories and construction sites, assuring that operations would not be significantly affected.
Transportation has taken a significant hit, with the transport ministry reporting the cancellation of 298 international flights, all domestic flights, and 139 ferry services. Although the high-speed railway remains operational, it is running a reduced service.
As the storm approaches, the Taiwanese government has closed parks in eastern scenic areas and banned hikers from entering mountainous zones.
Social media has been abuzz with concern among citizens about the late-season arrival of such a powerful typhoon, as typhoons typically occur from May to October.
Kong-rey is also expected to affect China’s Fujian province as it moves forward, and meteorologists caution that the storm may continue to exhibit erratic behaviour as it nears Taiwan’s coast.
If Kong-rey strikes as a Category 4 hurricane, it would be the strongest typhoon to impact Taiwan this late in the year since Typhoon Krosa in 2007, which caused widespread damage, power outages, and significant disruption to transport networks.