On October 3, 2024, Typhoon Krathon made landfall in southern Taiwan, leading to the evacuation of 9,967 people across thirteen counties and cities. The storm has resulted in at least two fatalities, two individuals reported missing, and 123 injuries. The deceased include a 70-year-old man from Hualien County who fell from a height and a 66-year-old man from Taitung County whose vehicle collided with a rock.
As of 8:30 AM local time (00:30 GMT), the typhoon prompted the closure of government offices, schools, and financial markets. The storm has also caused power outages affecting over 109,000 households. Administrative and educational activities have been suspended across all twenty-two jurisdictions of the island, with more than 200 flights canceled at Taoyuan International Airport.
At 11:30 AM local time (02:15 GMT), the storm was located approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung, a major port city in southern Taiwan, moving northeast at a speed of 8 to 4 kilometers per hour. With a radius of 180 kilometers, Typhoon Krathon is bringing sustained winds of 126 km/h and gusts of up to 162 km/h.
According to CWA forecaster Wu Wan-hua, the intensity and reach of the typhoon have slightly decreased overnight. The typhoon is expected to make landfall around noon and its intensity is predicted to diminish rapidly thereafter. Tracking platform Zoom.earth indicates that Krathon will make landfall between Kaohsiung and Tainan in the early afternoon, with winds of approximately 140 km/h, and will downgrade to a 'remnant low' by October 4 after traversing western Taiwan.
Taiwan is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. Earlier this year, Typhoon Gaemi resulted in at least 10 deaths, over 900 injuries, and significant losses in the agricultural and fishing sectors.