Typhoon Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan, killing at least 2

Strong waves break along the coast as Typhoon Kong-rey approaches Taiwan, in Yilan County on October 30, 2024.

Two months after Typhoon Gaemi battered Taiwan, Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on the island on Thursday, as massive waves, serious floods and ferocious winds cut power, cancelled flights, killed at least two people and injured 580.

Typhoon Kong-rey slammed into Taiwan on Thursday as one of the biggest storms to hit the island in decades, whipping up 10-metre waves, triggering floods and claiming at least one life.

Packing maximum wind speeds of 184 kilometres per hour (114 miles per hour), Kong-rey made landfall in eastern Taiwan on Thursday afternoon, the Central Weather Administration said.

It was the same strength as Typhoon Gaemi, which was the most powerful storm to hit Taiwan in eight years when it made landfall in July, but Kong-rey's radius of 320 kilometres made it the biggest in nearly three decades.

Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but the weather agency said it was unusual for such a powerful typhoon to hit this late in the year.

Scientists have warned climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, leading to heavier rains, flash floods and stronger gusts.

"Its impact on all of Taiwan will be quite severe," Chu Mei-lin from the Central Weather Administration said.

Work and schools across Taiwan were suspended on Thursday as people hunkered down for the storm.

Uprooted trees had fallen on cars and blocked roads, hampering response efforts, an employee in a township administrative office in Hualien county told AFP.

"This typhoon feels very strong," Taipei office worker Kevin Lin, 52, told AFP.


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