Typhoon Kong-rey to hit Taiwan, suspending work and classes nationwide

TAIWAN: Typhoon Kong-rey, a powerful storm with winds nearing 300 kilometres per hour, is expected to make landfall on Taiwan’s east coast today, leading authorities to cancel work and classes nationwide.

The typhoon is projected to strike Taitung County before moving across Taiwan’s southern regions, entering the Taiwan Strait, and advancing toward mainland China.

According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA), Kong-rey has been categorised as a “strong typhoon,” the highest designation on the agency’s scale, and it is the largest storm to hit Taiwan in nearly three decades.

President William Lai has issued warnings to residents, especially those in Taiwan’s eastern, southern, and northern regions, to remain vigilant.

“I would like to urge my friends in these areas to be on alert,” Lai wrote on Facebook, urging people to avoid the mountains and coastlines where conditions are expected to be hazardous.

Lai’s statement aligns with warnings from the CWA, which has predicted up to 1.2 metres of rainfall in eastern mountainous areas and destructive winds along coastal regions.

The typhoon intensified rapidly yesterday as it approached Taiwan, with its radius of maximum wind (RMW) – the distance between the storm’s centre and its strongest winds – reaching 320 kilometres, the CWA reported.

This expansive wind radius is notable, as it surpasses any storm Taiwan has seen in recent history. According to CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao, the last comparable storm, Typhoon Herb, hit Taiwan in July 1996 with a similar RMW, causing devastating rainfall and widespread damage.

To assist in preparation and response, the Ministry of National Defense has mobilised approximately 36,000 troops stationed across Taiwan.

Troops are expected to assist in areas likely to be impacted by flooding, landslides, and potential evacuations. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications reported that at least 26 ferry trips scheduled to outlying counties were cancelled yesterday, and multiple airlines have announced travel disruptions.

UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines canceled all domestic flights scheduled for today, and international carriers including China Airlines, Tigerair Taiwan, Singapore Airlines, and Starlux Airlines have issued advisories for delays, rescheduling, or cancelations.

Travellers planning flights to or from Taiwan are advised to check their flight status on carrier websites.

The storm’s arrival marks an unusual weather event for Taiwan, as strong typhoons rarely strike this late in the year. The CWA attributes this to warmer sea temperatures in the Pacific and delayed cold fronts from the north, which create a conducive environment for typhoons in autumn.

As of yesterday evening, heavy rain had already started affecting the northern capital of Taipei, and rain advisories were extended through early tomorrow for mountainous regions in Yilan and Hualien counties.

Other areas under rain advisories include the Keelung north coast, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Hsinchu County, Taichung, the Hengchun Peninsula, Orchid Island, and Green Island.

Residents are urged to make final preparations as the typhoon’s strength and size present risks of significant impact.