Flooded streets and fallen trees: People in Taiwan are currently experiencing record gusts and heavy rainfall as a result of storm “Krathon”. Nine people were also killed in a hospital fire in the south.
Typhoon “Krathon” made landfall in the Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung. It swept across Kaohsiung with wind speeds of over 160 kilometers per hour, and the port was even hit by record gusts of more than 220 kilometers per hour, reports said. Foothills of the storm had already hit the east and south of the island republic in the past few days. So far, two people have died and more than 500 have been injured.
Television footage showed flooded streets and fallen trees. Motorcyclists were knocked to the ground by strong gusts. According to the Taiwan Power Company, 51,000 households in Pingtung and Kaohsiung lost power. Schools, shops and restaurants remained closed. All domestic flights remained grounded. The typhoon has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.
Flooding caused by heavy rains in Taiwan.
Amid the storm, a fire broke out at a hospital in Pingtung County. Nine people were killed. According to local authorities, the fire started in an electrical room at the clinic. The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated.
176 patients were evacuated under difficult conditions. Amid the heavy rains, those affected had to be shifted to other facilities.
Storm heading towards Taipei
The storm is expected to reach the capital Taipei on Friday as a low pressure area. Authorities warned of possible floods and landslides. Around 11,000 people have already been evacuated because of the storm.
Thorsten Iffland, ARD Tokyo, tagesschau, October 3rd, 2024 5:57 p.m
