Taiwan in Typhoon Lockdown: Life Stops, Preparations Ramp Up

An island coming to a halt. That’s what happened when Typhoon Kong-rey swooped in on Taiwan’s east coast. The storm, one of the biggest in almost three decades, shut down financial markets, grounded hundreds of flights, and reduced train services. Nearly half a million households lost power. This wasn’t just any typhoon — it was once a super typhoon, packing winds over 155 mph! The typhoon hit Taitung, a mountainous and sparsely populated county. Guess what? Almost all of Taiwan felt its wrath. The main city, Taipei, hunkered down as strong winds and torrential rain swept over. Sadly, one person died after their truck hit a fallen tree in central Taiwan. What did the government do? They warned everyone to stay safe and avoid dangerous activities like wave watching. President Lai Ching-te even posted on Facebook, asking everyone to cooperate and stay away from harm. The typhoon was expected to weaken as it headed toward the Taiwan Strait. Still, strong winds were forecasted. Determined to prevent oil leaks, officials scrambled to secure a Chinese cargo ship stranded north. Out in Lanyu island, wind gusts topped 162 mph before barometers went offline. Roofs were damaged, and over 1, 300 homes lost power, but, thankfully, no injuries were reported. Taiwan’s defense ministry stood ready, with 36, 000 troops on standby for rescue efforts. Plus, over 10, 000 people evacuated safely from high-risk areas. Even major tech companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing took precautions. The transport ministry announced 314 international flights and all domestic flights were canceled. Only reduced high-speed railway services ran. Next stop? Kong-rey was expected to pass China’s Fujian province on Friday. Shanghai was preparing for possibly its worst rains in 40 years. Typhoons hit Taiwan often. Earlier this month, Typhoon Krathon caused four fatalities.