A TV crew films the sea at Sizihwan beach in Kaohsiung as super typhoon Krathon moved towards Taiwan on October 1, 2024. Agence France-Presse

KAOHSIUNG — Taiwan closed schools and evacuated thousands of people in the south of the island Tuesday ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon Krathon (local name in the Philippines: Julian) as the president warned it was likely cause “catastrophic damage”.

Krathon, packing sustained winds of 198 kilometers per hour (123 miles per hour) — equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane — and gusts of up to 245 kph was expected to make landfall Wednesday near the major port city of Kaohsiung.

Article continues after this advertisement

Offices and schools were closed across southern and eastern Taiwan and the interior ministry said more than 7,700 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas as a precaution.

FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION Putin hosts summit to show West it can't keep Russia off global stage GLOBALNATION China says it reached 'resolution' with India on contested border issues GLOBALNATION P100,000 reward up for info on missing US vlogger in Zamboanga

READ: Julian is now a super typhoon, says Pagasa

President Lai Ching-te warned Krathon could “inevitably cause catastrophic damage”.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The path of Krathon is relatively rare, entering from the south and exiting from the east. Therefore we must be particularly vigilant,” he said at a government briefing.

Article continues after this advertisement

Nearly 40,000 troops were on standby for relief missions, the defense ministry said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Dozens of international and domestic flights have been cancelled.

READ: Julian exits PAR, but may re-enter on Wednesday – Pagasa

Article continues after this advertisement

In southern Kaohsiung where the typhoon was forecast to make landfall, residents filled sandbags and erected barriers around their homes for flood protection and taped windows.

Coast guard officers patrolling the nearby popular tourist beauty spot of Sizihwan Bay told people to stay away as powerful waves pounded the coast.

Retiree Ou Rui-yao, who was birdwatching in the area, said he had made preparations at home such as putting up flood barriers.

“We need to be very careful as this typhoon must be very strong,” said Ou, 82. “Since the tide is high, we have put up water barriers,” he said.

“For the whole of Taiwan, we can’t underestimate this typhoon.”

Storm pounds remote islands

The typhoon was around 230 kilometers south-southwest of Kaohsiung at 11:00 am (0300 GMT), the Central Weather Administration said.

The storm was approaching Taiwan after pounding a remote group of Philippine islands, where it cut power and communications and damaged “many” houses, according to the local mayor.

The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Tuesday nearly 1,800 people had been evacuated, around half in the Batanes islands near southern Taiwan.

READ: Signal No. 4 still up in Batanes as Julian nears super typhoon status

Taiwan’s coast guard said a Barbadian ship, “Blue Lagoon,” at sea off the southeast city of Taitung was taking on water and tilting over due to the storm, with its 19 crew waiting to be airlifted to safety when conditions permitted.

Across Taiwan, 15 typhoon-related minor injuries were reported as of Tuesday, authorities said without providing details.

In Taitung, where the typhoon has brought heavy rains and waves of up to seven meters (23 feet), a man was sent to hospital after his truck was hit by a huge falling rock as he was driving along a mountainous route, local media said.

Typhoons are common around the region at this time of year.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Howevercrazywin88, a recent study showed that they are increasingly forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change.

READ NEXT Rural schools empty in North Macedonia due to exodus Canada reserves 800 seats for Lebanon evacuation EDITORS' PICK INQside Look with senatorial aspirant Tito Sotto QC Mayor Belmonte highlights social services in State of City Address Tropical Storm Kristine slightly intensifies; Signal No. 2 in 5 areas Kristine gets nearer; Metro Manila, 42 other areas under Signal No. 1 NBA: Nuggets give Aaron Gordon 4-year, $133M extension Party-list system: What to know ahead of 2025 polls MOST READ SC issues TRO vs Comelec resolution on dismissed public officials Tropical Storm Kristine slightly intensifies; Signal No. 2 in 5 areas LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine Walang Pasok: Class suspensions on Wednesday, Oct. 23 View comments

• as
• super
• Thousands
• evacuated
• crazywin88