Taiwan's Biggest Typhoon in Decades: How Kong-rey Hit Hard

On Thursday, heavy rain and strong winds swept across Taiwan as Typhoon Kong-rey, the biggest storm to hit the island in almost 30 years, made landfall. With winds close to 200 km/h (125 mph), equivalent to a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane, Kong-rey struck Taitung county, causing at least one death and injuring dozens. Its huge size, with strong winds extending 320 km (200 miles) from its center, made it the largest storm since Typhoon Herb in 1996. A woman in central Nantou county was killed by a falling tree while driving.

The island took precautions by closing offices and schools temporarily and suspending stock market trading. Authorities issued evacuation orders, with the military ready to assist. Over 500 flights, including 300 international, were canceled, and ferry services to outlying islands were suspended. High-speed rail and Taipei metro services were limited. Images showed fierce waves hitting Taitung and floods in Hualien. Kong-rey, which strengthened rapidly after hitting the Philippines, brought intense rain, flash flooding, and landslide risks. The heaviest rain was predicted for eastern Taiwan, with warnings of "extremely torrential" rainfall. This typhoon is the third to hit Taiwan this year, following Krathon and Gaemi. Warmer oceans due to climate change are making storms like Kong-rey stronger. After crossing the Taiwan Strait, Kong-rey is expected to move into the East China Sea and toward Japan.

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