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04 October 2024 – 07:25
Taipei, Oct 4 (EFE).- Taiwan is trying to return to normality after the passage of Typhoon Krathon, which left at least two dead, one missing and more than 600 injured and caused hundreds of floods and damage in various parts of the island .
According to the Taiwanese Central Meteorological Agency (CWA), Krathon became a tropical storm around 05:00 on Friday (21:00 GMT on Thursday), seventeen hours after making landfall in Kaohsiung, a major port city in southern Taiwan. Taiwan.
This town of 2.7 million inhabitants, the third most populated on the island, decreed the suspension of classes and the closure of government offices for the fourth consecutive day to concentrate on cleaning and restoration work, something that according to its mayor , Chen Chi-mai, could be extended by three days.
During its passage through Kaohsiung, the typhoon tore off roofs, collapsed freight containers and caused multiple damage to vehicles and infrastructure, in addition to causing flooding in numerous streets and avenues.
Another of the places most affected by the typhoon was Keelung, a coastal city in northeastern Taiwan, which suffered several landslides in its mountain areas after accumulating 408 millimeters of rain on Thursday, a daily record since records began.
Taiwanese President William Lai warned the population that, although the maritime and land alert for a typhoon has been lifted, they must remain alert to the “heavy rains” that may occur in the coming hours and “avoid for the moment.” activities in the mountains or on the coast.”
“The central government will fully support local governments, providing all kinds of assistance. With a joint effort, we will restore our communities as soon as possible,” the president said on his official Facebook account.
Fatalities and material damage
According to the latest official figures, Krathon has left at least two people dead in Taiwan: a 70-year-old man from the eastern county of Hualien, who died in hospital after falling from a height of three meters, and a 66-year-old man from the eastern county. from Taitung, whose car collided with a rock while driving on the road.
In a separate incident, nine people died in a fire at a hospital in the southern county of Pingtung, which may have been caused by power failures during the typhoon, according to officials at the medical center.
The storm has also caused one person missing and 667 injured, as well as loss of electricity in approximately 387,000 homes and flooding in more than 500 places on the island.
Regarding rainfall, Krathon has left 1,713.5 millimeters of rain on a trail in the eastern county of Taitung; 1,570 millimeters on Dahan Mountain, in the southern county of Pingtung, and another 1,067.5 millimeters in the Ruifang district of New Taipei.
Taiwan’s Central Meteorological Agency said Krathon maintained its typhoon structure upon landfall due to its slow motion and lack of barriers in southwestern Taiwan, but the mountains “quickly sapped the strength of the storm.”
According to CWA experts, it is “very rare” for a typhoon to weaken and become a tropical depression after making landfall in Taiwan: the only similar case was Typhoon Trami, which broke into Taitung County in July 2001. and weakened into a tropical depression shortly thereafter.
Taiwan is particularly sensitive to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons: at the end of July, Typhoon Gaemi left at least 10 dead, more than 900 injured, and millions in losses to the island’s agricultural and fishing sector. EFE
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