Storm Kong-rey: Taiwan's East Coast on Alert

A tough storm named Kong-rey hit Taiwan's east coast last Thursday, sadly taking one life. Moving from the northern Philippines, the storm brought strong winds and floods, causing plenty of trouble. About 8, 600 people had to find shelter, and both flights and train services were stopped. The storm was really powerful, with winds up to 227 kph (141 mph)! The storm mostly affected the east coast and the northern parts of Taiwan. Areas like Yilan and Hualien were hit hard by heavy rain, but farmers had already collected their crops to prevent damage. Unfortunately, one person died when a tree fell on their vehicle. Officials were also worried about two Czech tourists who were hiking in Tarako National Park, known for its steep cliffs and trails. Taipei, the capital, was pretty much shut down due to the heavy rains and strong winds. Schools and offices across the island were closed. There was even a Chinese-registered freighter that had to be towed away because its crew abandoned it in heavy seas. Before reaching Taiwan, Kong-rey passed close to the northern Philippine province of Batanes. Villagers had to evacuate to shelters the day before. The weather agency warned that the storm could cause serious damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. This was the 12th storm to hit the Philippines this year. The country was still recovering from a storm last week that killed or left missing 179 people. Many people were still living in emergency shelters from Tropical Storm Trami. In the middle of all this, China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, sent fewer planes and warships around the island. They only sent eight planes between Wednesday and Thursday, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry.