Two individuals succumb to fatalities as sluggish Typhoon Krathon makes its way into southern Taiwan's territory.
Typhoon Krathon, capable of reaching speeds of 135 km/h (85 mph), hit south Taiwan around midday on Thursday, equivalent to a Category 1 Atlantic hurricane.
Two lives were lost and 219 individuals reported injuries, with one individual still unaccounted for, as per Taiwan's Central Emergency Operations Center.
A 66-year-old driver met his demise due to falling rocks, while a 70-year-old man suffered the same fate while trimming a tree during the typhoon.
Prior to making landfall, Krathon had moved slowly along Taiwan's southern coast. In earlier days, it lingered near Taiwan and the Philippines as a Category 4 equivalent, with Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, issuing warnings of potential "catastrophic damage."
After weakening, Krathon continued to pummel Taiwan with heavy rainfall, causing school closures and stock market suspensions earlier in the week. Over 300 flights were halted, and as of 3 p.m., approximately 100,000 households endured power outages, as reported by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Krathon left behind rainfall amounts ranging from 250-500 mm (10-20 inches), with some areas experiencing over a meter (40 inches) of rainfall. Additional rainfall of 250-500 mm (10-20 inches) is anticipated as Krathon continues to hover over and near Taiwan.
Schools and businesses were closed throughout Taiwan on Thursday. Over 38,000 Taiwanese soldiers are on standby, ready to assist in case of emergencies.
Kaohsiung officials warned of Krathon's slow pace, stating that if the typhoon stopped in Kaohsiung and Tainan areas, it could prolong its destructive impact upon Kaohsiung.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai advised against leaving one's home, saying, "Please avoid going out."
University student Liao Shian-rong, aged 24, shared his experience with Reuters, having traveled from Taipei to Kaohsiung to experience the storm firsthand.
"We are being hit by the eyewall now and will soon enter the eye," he said, filming the storm from a hotel lobby.
Footage shared on social media via Threads depicted strong winds that had tipped over motorcycles and destroyed scaffolding structures, as well as ripped off roofs.
Typhoon Krathon, also known as Julien in the Philippines, had previously impacted the Philippines' northernmost islands, causing evacuations and severe flooding in coastal communities.
Nearly 23,000 households in three regions have been impacted by the storm, as reported by the Philippines' national disaster agency, according to the Philippine News Agency.
The typhoon, initially classified as a Category 4 equivalent, posed a significant threat to Asia, causing Taiwan's President to issue warnings of potential catastrophic damage. After weakening, Krathon continued its path and brought heavy rainfall to various parts of Asia.
