Devastating Typhoon Kong-rey Strikes Taiwan, Evacuations and Chaos Follow

As the most powerful typhoon to strike Taiwan in nearly 30 years, Kong-rey's immense winds and rain led to thousands of evacuations and reports of injuries and fatalities due to falling debris.

Typhoon Kong-rey made a significant impact as it made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday afternoon, marking the most formidable storm to hit the island in nearly 30 years. Authorities were forced to close schools, governmental offices, and financial markets, while thousands were evacuated, flights were grounded, and the military was activated for emergency response.

Described as the strongest typhoon in 28 years, Kong-rey brought maximum sustained winds of around 126 miles per hour, classifying it as a strong Category 3 hurricane, as noted by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Reports from Taiwan’s national fire agency indicated 73 injuries linked to the storm's severe winds and rain. Tragically, a 56-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on her vehicle in central Taiwan.

The widespread evacuation efforts impacted over 9,600 individuals across 13 cities and counties on the island. With Taiwan under extensive land and sea warnings, conditions were expected to worsen, with advisories for extremely heavy rain covering multiple regions. Some mountainous areas face forecasts of nearly four feet of rainfall.

In Taipei, residents expressed their distress as they braced for the storm. “My plans are in chaos,” resonated with many like Huang Shu-ting, who was busy stocking up supplies in a local supermarket. As the storm approached, Taiwan prepared for the possible catastrophic impacts of its ferocious winds and rain.