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Taiwan Re-Opens, Cleans Up After Typhoon Krathon

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Southern Taiwan, particularly the major port city of Kaohsiung, began clearing up damage on Friday after Typhoon Krathon caused significant flooding and damage from high winds. The storm, now downgraded to a tropical depression, hit Kaohsiung hard, inundating streets, shattering windows, and scattering debris as it unleashed record-breaking winds. Meanwhile, most of Taiwan resumed normal activities, and financial markets re-opened, though Kaohsiung and neighboring Pingtung County declared a fourth consecutive day off work to focus on recovery efforts.

Officials, led by Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, vowed to restore essential services as quickly as possible. The mayor stressed the urgency of restoring transport, water, and electricity, saying, “We hope as fast as possible to resume transport, water and electricity supplies, so work and life can get back to normal.”

Kaohsiung’s government reported over 2,000 fallen trees obstructing roads, though only two injuries were reported in the city. Workers used cranes to clear debris, including downed trees and traffic signs. Some streets remained impassable, forcing traffic diversions and inconveniencing pedestrians.

Locals shared their experiences of the storm’s intensity. Clark Huang, a 49-year-old resident, described how his sandbags failed to prevent water from flooding his home. “The wind pressed the water in anyway,” he said, adding that cleanup began swiftly once the storm passed. Tsai Ming-an, a 51-year-old engineer, recounted how his home’s ground floor was submerged in about 20 cm (7.8 inches) of water, remarking, “I have never seen winds like that.”

Typhoon Krathon’s path was unusual, striking Taiwan’s flat west coast, rather than the more mountainous and sparsely populated east coast. In the aftermath, nearly 100,000 households in Kaohsiung and Pingtung remained without power on Friday, while 129,000 households in Kaohsiung had no water supply. Despite the widespread disruptions, the city is recovering steadily, and workers at Kaohsiung Port are clearing freight containers displaced by the storm to ensure normal operations continue.

Transportation services were slowly resuming, with Taiwan’s north-south high-speed rail line and most regular rail services back in operation, except for two branch lines. However, disruptions in air travel continued, with 15 international and 88 domestic flights canceled. Kaohsiung’s airport sustained damage to two air bridges, and Orchid Island’s airport lost landing aids, but both airports remained operational.

The death toll from Typhoon Krathon remains at two, both men from Taiwan’s east coast who were killed before the typhoon made landfall. One person is still missing, and 667 people sustained injuries. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing, with teams working to restore services and clear the storm’s aftermath.

In addition to dealing with storm damage, authorities are investigating a fire at a hospital in Pingtung that killed nine people. The fire broke out while Typhoon Krathon was bearing down on the region, adding another layer of tragedy to the unfolding disaster.

 

Thousands in North Carolina Still Without Water Days After Hurricane Helene’s Destruction

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Six days after Hurricane Helene hit the U.S. Southeast, tens of thousands of North Carolina residents are still without running water, with more than 180 fatalities reported across multiple states. The hurricane caused widespread flooding, severely damaging water plants and infrastructure, leaving many residents with no access to clean water. Over a million people remain without electricity, and water distribution sites have been set up to provide essentials to those in need.

The hardest-hit region, Asheville, is experiencing one of the most significant water crises. The city’s water supply system, serving over 150,000 people, has been severely damaged, with residents warned that running water may not return for weeks. Some neighborhoods have no water at all, while others face low pressure and have been advised to boil water before using it. The impact is widespread, affecting homes, businesses, hospitals, and schools, with authorities working around the clock to restore services.

At a food and water distribution hub set up in Pack Square Park, volunteers distributed drinking water and ready-to-eat meals. David Shoham, a resident who has been without power and water since Friday, expressed a common sentiment: “There’s nothing we can do about it individually. We just have to trust that our institutions are going to step up.”

Local businesses are also struggling. Jordan Lance, owner of Buxton Chicken Palace, has been collecting water to prepare meals for residents, though the uncertainty about how long the water shortage will last has left many business owners concerned about their future. Harrison Fahrer, co-founder of Cellarest Beer Project, echoed these concerns, stating, “If we can’t brew, we can’t pay our bills.”

The storm, which first made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, brought catastrophic flooding and destruction across the Southeast, affecting multiple states. In Asheville, the storm washed out key water pipes, severely damaging water plants, including North Fork and DeBruhl, making it difficult to restore services. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard have been deployed to assist in recovery efforts, but the timeline for full restoration remains uncertain.

At least 61 people have died in Buncombe County alone, bringing the storm’s overall death toll to 189 across six states. In addition to the water crisis, search-and-rescue teams are still working to locate the missing and provide aid to survivors.

President Joe Biden visited North Carolina to assess the damage, while Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Georgia, emphasizing the need for continued federal support in the recovery process. The water crisis in Asheville has also led to the closure of schools, with local officials emphasizing that they cannot reopen without a reliable water supply.

As residents face weeks of uncertainty, the community is banding together to support one another, but the road to recovery will be long.

 

Rebuilding Antakya: A Vision for a Disaster-Resilient Future

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In the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria in February 2023, Antakya, a city with a rich history dating back to the fourth century BC, faced unimaginable devastation. With more than 50,000 lives lost and millions displaced, the city was left in ruins, with 80% of its buildings damaged beyond repair. The challenge of rebuilding such a disaster-prone area is formidable, but a new masterplan aims to transform Antakya into a model of resilience against natural disasters.

Foster + Partners, an architectural firm, was commissioned by the Türkiye Design Council to lead the effort to not only rebuild but also future-proof the city against earthquakes, flooding, and other environmental threats. Given Antakya’s location at the foot of Mount Habib Neccar and along the Asi River, the city is particularly vulnerable to soil liquefaction and flooding. The masterplan addresses these vulnerabilities with a multifaceted approach that integrates architectural innovation, urban design, and sustainability.

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Key elements of the plan include the construction of compact, earthquake-resistant buildings and the creation of “superblocks” that prioritize pedestrian and emergency routes over vehicular traffic. This design not only enhances safety but also improves the quality of life by reducing traffic and increasing green spaces. Green spaces play a crucial role in the plan, serving as natural buffer zones to absorb floodwaters and acting as green corridors that support local biodiversity. The goal is to double the amount of green space per capita, making access to nature more equitable for all residents.

The plan also emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the rebuilding process. Older residents, who have deep connections to the city, were consulted to ensure that the revitalization efforts preserve Antakya’s unique spirit. This focus on community and trust is central to the project’s success. As one elderly resident expressed, the destruction caused by the earthquake has left them with a profound sense of betrayal by the very buildings they once trusted. Rebuilding that trust, along with the physical structures, is at the heart of the masterplan.

While the full revitalization of Antakya is expected to take a decade, the lessons learned from this ambitious project could set a global precedent for rebuilding disaster-stricken cities. The approach taken in Antakya highlights the necessity of prioritizing resilience and sustainability in urban planning, particularly in regions prone to natural disasters. As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, the Antakya masterplan serves as a blueprint for how cities can not only recover but thrive in the face of adversity.