Taiwan shuts down for arrival of strong Typhoon Kong-rey

31/10/2024 11:38

        Taiwan shut down ahead of the arrival of strong Typhoon Kong-rey on Thursday with all cities and counties declaring a day off, financial markets closed and hundreds of flights cancelled for what is expected to be the largest storm by size in 30 years.
        
        According to Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, the storm is forecast to make landfall on the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast around 2:00 p.m. (0600 GMT), with strong winds and torrential rain affecting almost all the island.
        
        At one point a super typhoon, Kong-rey slightly weakened overnight but remained powerful as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane packing gusts of more than 250 kph (155 mph), according to Tropical Storm Risk.
        
        Taiwan's weather administration labelled the storm a "strong typhoon", the most powerful storm level for Taiwan, adding it would be the biggest typhoon in size to hit the island since 1996.