TAIPEI: Taiwans authorities closed some schools and cancelled domestic flights as an intensifying Typhoon Krathon moves toward the island, while bringing violent wind and rain to the Philippines.
The storm is currently 250km south of Taiwan, with sustained winds of 162kph, according to the Taiwan central weather administration, which added it has room to strengthen as it approaches the island. The system is expected to make landfall in Taiwan on Wednesday but has already triggered landslides in the east, disrupting train services and traffic.
The storm is expected to veer east after it hits Taiwan, and Japans weather officials said it will likely approach the southwestern islands of Okinawa prefecture mid-week, NHK reported on Saturday.
The Taiwan weather administration warned of extremely heavy rain in its eastern and southern regions, while transport authorities have said ship crossings and domestic flights will be cancelled. International flights remain unaffected.
Be careful if you pass through eastern Taiwan and southern mountainous areas in next few days, central weather administration forecaster Wu Wan-hua said on Monday.
While storms are expected in the Pacific Ocean at this time of year, global warming is increasing their intensity and testing countries readiness to deal with the damage wrought by extreme weather on their agriculture, infrastructure, and economy. Earlier this month, Super Typhoon Yagi left a trail of devastation across Vietnam and caused damage to crops and infrastructure across the region.
The Philippines weather agency has also said the system, known locally as Julian, could reach super typhoon category and have placed several islands on alert as the system grazes the northern parts of the archipelago.