Two Killed as Slow-Moving Typhoon Krathon Lumbs into Southern Taiwan
Typhoon Krathon made landfall in the industrial Siaogang District of Kaohsiung around 12:40 p.m. on Thursday, bringing torrential rains and fierce winds to southern and southeastern parts of Taiwan. The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 126 kph near its center, with gusts of 162 kph. Two fatalities have been reported, one due to a tree branch falling while trimming and the other from a rock striking their vehicle. Over 100,000 households experienced power outages, with approximately half in Kaohsiung, according to the state-run utility company Taipower. All domestic flights were canceled for the second day in a row, alongside 242 international flights. The storm has also caused a fire at a hospital in Pingtung County, resulting in nine deaths, and thousands were evacuated from areas vulnerable to mudslides and landslides. The typhoon is forecast to move slowly north and weaken into a tropical depression by Friday before it reaches the capital, Taipei.
