Taiwan: 'Weird' Typhoon Krathon lands on west coast

Schools, offices and financial markets remained shut for a second day in Taiwan as Typhoon Krathon made landfall around noon in the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung.

"Typhoon Krathon has made landfall near Kaohsiung's Xiaogang district at around 12:40 p.m. today (0440 UTC/GMT)," said Taiwan's Central Weather Administration (CWA) in a post on the Line messaging app. 

The typhoon hit with maximum sustained winds of 126 kph (78 mph) near its center, with gusts of 162 kph (101 mph), according to weather authorities.

Residents had been warned by the CWA to stay indoors due to torrential rains and winds.

Local media called it a "weird" storm as it landed on the west coast instead of east, which is more common for typhoons. Krathon landed as a weakened Category 1 storm, after hovering off the coast for a while.

Parts of eastern Taiwan recorded rainfall of more than 1.6 meters (5.2 feet), causing rocks to slide down off hillsides.

The capital, Taipei, in northern Taiwan also experienced some rainfall, though shops and malls remained open. 

DW correspondent James Chater, who is in Kaohsiung, said despite weakening, the typhoon had ripped trees out of the ground in the city.

"This gives you the impression of how strong this typhoon really is despite its weakening as it was approaching," he said. "Because of its slow pace, the impact that it has on Taiwan could be longer than was initially forecast. It is meant to bring heavy wind and rain to the western side of Taiwan, where about 90% of the population resides, before it decreases in intensity as it approaches capital Taipei in the north some time on Friday." 

Two dead, several injured

Two people have lost their lives and about 123 are injured, the National Fire Agency said. 

The dead included a 70-year-old man in Hualien, who died after falling while trimming trees. A 66-year-old died near Taitung after his truck hit a rock that had fallen on the road.

All domestic flights were suspended, and around 240 international flights were canceled.

"We urge residents not to go out unless necessary. So far, Kaohsiung has recorded 356 disaster cases, mostly falling trees and advertising signs," Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said in the morning.

Kaohsiung experienced strong winds that swayed buildings, shattered glass windows and uprooted some trees. Three motorcyclists were swept to the ground.

In Pingtung county, strong waves crashed along the coast, video footage showed.

State-run Taipower said more than 100,000 homes had lost electricity. 

Chipmaker TSMC and several other factories in the Southern Taiwan Science Park remained operational.

Typhoon Krathon approached Taiwan from the Philippines, where it caused damage to homes and power outages.

Typhoons are common around this time of the year in Taiwan, but they usually occur along the mountainous, sparsely populated east coast. 

The memories of Typhoon Gaemi are still strong in the country. In July, Gaemi became the strongest typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan in eight years, killing at least 10 people, injuring hundreds

In 1977,  Typhoon Thelma killed 37 people in Taiwan.

Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of typhoons in the region. 

tg/sms (AFP, AP, Reuters)