The Category 3 storm injured dozens, led to massive evacuations, and grounded flights as it unleashed devastating winds and rain.
**Typhoon Kong-rey Hits Taiwan: A Record Storm's Impact**
**Typhoon Kong-rey Hits Taiwan: A Record Storm's Impact**
Typhoon Kong-rey marked its historic arrival in Taiwan, causing widespread disruptions and damage.
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Typhoon Kong-rey made a historic landfall in Taiwan, becoming the island's most powerful storm in nearly three decades. The storm struck on Thursday afternoon with maximum sustained winds reaching approximately 126 miles per hour, categorizing it as a robust Category 3 hurricane as confirmed by the U.S. Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
As official warnings escalated, authorities swiftly closed schools, halted financial markets, and evacuated thousands of residents. This proactive approach saw over 9,600 individuals displaced across 13 cities, according to Taiwan’s Interior Ministry. Tragically, one fatality was confirmed, a 56-year-old woman in central Taiwan, who was killed when a tree fell onto her truck.
By Thursday afternoon, reports indicated at least 73 injuries stemming from the strong winds and rain across the island. The harsh weather prompted land and sea warnings, with predictions of winds reaching at least 39 miles per hour in various regions. In mountainous areas, forecasts anticipated nearly four feet of rainfall, exacerbating the storm's already significant impact.
Local residents expressed a mix of fear and frustration. Huang Shu-ting, 45, shared her distress as she scrambled to stock up on essentials at a Taipei supermarket. The storm not only disrupted everyday life but posed severe threats to safety and infrastructure, igniting discussions of how to bolster resilience against such natural disasters in the future.
Typhoon Kong-rey made a historic landfall in Taiwan, becoming the island's most powerful storm in nearly three decades. The storm struck on Thursday afternoon with maximum sustained winds reaching approximately 126 miles per hour, categorizing it as a robust Category 3 hurricane as confirmed by the U.S. Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
As official warnings escalated, authorities swiftly closed schools, halted financial markets, and evacuated thousands of residents. This proactive approach saw over 9,600 individuals displaced across 13 cities, according to Taiwan’s Interior Ministry. Tragically, one fatality was confirmed, a 56-year-old woman in central Taiwan, who was killed when a tree fell onto her truck.
By Thursday afternoon, reports indicated at least 73 injuries stemming from the strong winds and rain across the island. The harsh weather prompted land and sea warnings, with predictions of winds reaching at least 39 miles per hour in various regions. In mountainous areas, forecasts anticipated nearly four feet of rainfall, exacerbating the storm's already significant impact.
Local residents expressed a mix of fear and frustration. Huang Shu-ting, 45, shared her distress as she scrambled to stock up on essentials at a Taipei supermarket. The storm not only disrupted everyday life but posed severe threats to safety and infrastructure, igniting discussions of how to bolster resilience against such natural disasters in the future.
