Taiwan hit by super typhoon Kong-rey | BBC News

Summary

Typhoon Conray, the strongest storm to hit Taiwan in nearly 30 years, made landfall on the eastern coast with winds exceeding 250 km/h and heavy rainfall. Thousands have been evacuated as schools, businesses, and transport services were shut down. With over 30,000 troops on standby, the government has responded swiftly to manage the storm’s destruction. While the powerful winds are alarming, the greatest danger lies in the torrential rains and the potential for flash floods. This late-season typhoon, hitting in late October, has shocked residents, with many commenting it’s the latest they’ve seen in their lifetimes.

Takeaways

• 😀 Super Typhoon Conray is the largest storm to hit Taiwan in nearly 30 years, making landfall on the sparsely populated eastern coast.
• 🌪️ Conray is packing winds exceeding 250 km/h, with torrential rains expected to cause flash flooding and landslides.
• 🏠 Thousands of people in the storm's path have been evacuated for safety.
• ✈️ Hundreds of flights have been canceled, and all domestic rail services have been suspended.
• ⚔️ The Taiwanese government has placed over 30,000 troops on standby to assist with emergency operations.
• 🌧️ The primary danger from the typhoon is the heavy rain, which could cause widespread flooding, particularly in the central mountainous regions.
• ⏳ This typhoon is notably late in the season, with similar storms typically occurring earlier in the year, making it an unprecedented event for many locals.
• 📰 Local residents, including a 70-year-old man, have expressed shock, as they’ve never seen a typhoon this late in the season during their lifetimes.
• 🏙️ In Taipei, the capital city, the storm’s intensity has increased dramatically in the last few hours, with residents hunkering down and businesses closed.
• ⚠️ The risk of mudslides and flash floods from the storm's heavy rainfall is a critical concern, as previous storms have buried entire villages in the past.

Q & A

What is the magnitude of the storm that is affecting Taiwan?

The storm is a super typhoon named Conray, which is gusting at more than 250 km/h. It is one of the largest storms to strike Taiwan in nearly 30 years.

Where did the typhoon make landfall in Taiwan?

The typhoon made landfall on Taiwan's sparsely populated eastern coast.

What is the primary concern associated with Typhoon Conray?

The primary concern is the massive amount of rainfall the typhoon is bringing. This is expected to cause flash flooding and landslides, particularly in the central mountains of Taiwan.

How large is Typhoon Conray in terms of size?

The typhoon is 500 kilometers across, which makes it a very large storm.

What measures have been taken by the Taiwanese government in response to the storm?

The Taiwanese government has evacuated thousands of people, closed schools, businesses, and financial markets, canceled hundreds of flights, and put over 30,000 troops on standby.

Why are people in Taiwan concerned about the timing of the typhoon?

The storm is unusually late in the season, as typhoons in Taiwan typically occur earlier in the year. Typhoon Conray, arriving at the end of October or early November, is the latest storm to ever strike the island.

What role does the terrain of Taiwan play in the storm's impact?

The central mountains of Taiwan, which are very high, are expected to cause the storm's rain to break up and dump large amounts of water, increasing the likelihood of flash flooding and landslides.

How have residents of Taiwan reacted to the typhoon?

Many residents, while used to typhoons, are surprised by how late in the season this one is. Some expressed concern, noting that they have never seen a storm this late in the year in their lifetime.

What is the size of the storm's winds and their potential impact?

The winds at the center of Typhoon Conray are over 200 km/h. These strong winds, along with the rain, can cause significant damage to infrastructure and increase the risk of flooding and landslides.

What other storms has Taiwan experienced this year before Conray?

Taiwan has already experienced two major typhoons earlier in the year, one at the end of July and another at the end of September, before Typhoon Conray.