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Weakened but Powerful Typhoon Krathon Hits Taiwan, Killing Two

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Typhoon Krathon, although weakened to a category 1 storm, hit southwestern Taiwan on Thursday, leaving two people dead and causing significant disruption across the island. Making landfall near Kaohsiung, a major port city, the storm brought with it heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous storm surges. Despite the typhoon’s reduced intensity, authorities urged residents to remain indoors as gusts over 160 kph (100 mph) were recorded, with Kaohsiung’s port experiencing even stronger winds of more than 220 kph.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai expressed concern about people continuing to venture outside despite the warnings, calling it “very dangerous” to be on the streets with such severe weather conditions. The storm led to widespread disruptions, grounding hundreds of flights, closing financial markets for a second day, and halting high-speed rail services between central and southern Taiwan.

Tragically, the typhoon has claimed two lives so far. One man fell while trimming a tree, and another died when his vehicle was hit by a falling rock. Both incidents occurred on Taiwan’s eastern, mountainous regions, which have been hit particularly hard by torrential rain, causing landslides and road blockages.

Although Taiwan is no stranger to typhoons, Krathon’s path was unusual. The storm hovered off the coast for some time before making landfall on Taiwan’s west coast—a rarity in a region where storms typically strike the east. Local media has described Krathon as a “weird” storm due to its erratic behavior and unusual trajectory.

Amid the chaos, the Southern Taiwan Science Park, home to major semiconductor factories like TSMC, reported that operations were continuing as normal. However, heavy rainfalls exceeding 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) in parts of eastern Taiwan led to significant flooding and mudslides.

In an unrelated but tragic incident, six people died in a hospital fire in Pingtung County. Efforts were made to evacuate patients as authorities worked through the storm to manage the disaster.

Typhoon Krathon is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by Friday as it continues moving north, but authorities remain on alert for further impacts.

 

Typhoon Shanshan Wreaks Havoc in Japan, Millions Ordered to Evacuate Amidst Severe Storm

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Typhoon Shanshan has caused widespread chaos across southwestern Japan, prompting the evacuation of millions as the storm battered the region with violent winds and torrential rainfall. The typhoon, one of the most powerful storms to hit the area in recent history, has resulted in at least three deaths and left dozens injured. Authorities warned that the worst might not be over as the storm continues its path northward, with the potential to affect central and eastern regions, including Tokyo, over the weekend.

The storm’s impact was severe, with gusts reaching up to 180 km/h (112 mph), causing power outages in over 200,000 households across seven prefectures. In Miyazaki city, southern Kyushu, strong winds shattered windows and downed power lines, leaving destruction in their wake. Funeral parlor worker Tomoki Maeda, who was caught in the storm, described it as the strongest wind he had ever experienced in his life.

Industries were hit hard by the typhoon, with major automakers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda suspending operations at their domestic plants due to safety concerns. The storm also disrupted production at semiconductor companies like Renesas and Tokyo Electron. The closures come as Japan grapples with increasing natural disasters, causing significant economic disruption.

More than 5.2 million people have been told to evacuate, mainly in Kyushu, but evacuation orders have also been issued in central regions affected by heavy rain and landslides. Elderly evacuees have been housed in emergency shelters, including a hotel in Hitoyoshi city, where all prior reservations were canceled to accommodate displaced residents.

Transportation across the affected regions has been paralyzed, with almost 800 flights canceled by airlines such as ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines. Train services in Kyushu have also been suspended, alongside hundreds of halted bus and ferry routes.

Typhoon Shanshan is part of a series of severe weather events that have struck Japan recently, following Typhoon Ampil earlier in the month, which similarly led to widespread power outages and evacuations. Authorities continue to monitor the storm’s progress, urging caution as the storm advances toward more populated regions.