Massive waves slammed against a sea wall in Taitung, Taiwan, as Typhoon Kong-rey approached the coast on October 31, 2024. Getty Images
Heavy rains and strong winds hit Taiwan on Thursday as Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on the island's southeast coast, marking the largest storm to strike Taiwan in nearly 30 years. The typhoon brought wind speeds nearing 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph), comparable to a Category 3 hurricane, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It made landfall in Taitung County during the afternoon, leaving at least two people dead and injuring over 500 others.
One victim, a 56-year-old woman, died when a tree fell on her car in Nantou County. In Taipei, a 48-year-old man was killed by an electric pole that collapsed due to the storm. Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operations Center reported the injuries were primarily storm-related.
In preparation for the powerful typhoon, local authorities temporarily closed schools and offices and halted trading on the stock market. Taiwan typically manages typhoons well, but some remote areas, especially in the mountains, are at risk for landslides.
The military mobilized over 34,000 troops to aid in rescue efforts, and by Wednesday, more than 8,600 individuals had been evacuated from areas deemed high-risk. Many flights were canceled, including around 300 international routes, and ferry services to the surrounding islands were suspended. High-speed rail operations were limited, while the Taipei metro closed its outdoor sections.
Intense rain fell in Keelung, Taiwan, on October 31, 2024. Getty Images
Footage and reports from Taiwan’s Central News Agency and social media highlighted the fierce waves crashing along Taitung's coast, with flooding in parts of Hualien County. Images showed damaged road signs and traffic lights scattered across the island due to the storm's fury.
Kong-rey intensified rapidly to super typhoon status on Wednesday, moving toward Taiwan after impacting the Philippines. While it slightly weakened before reaching the island, it brought heavy rainfall, causing flash floods and the risk of landslides. The worst rain was anticipated in eastern Taiwan, where the weather agency issued the highest alert for "extremely torrential" rainfall in parts of Yilan, Hualien, Taichung, and Taitung counties.
Warnings were also in place for other areas in eastern Taiwan and parts of the north, including Taipei, indicating a "torrential" rainfall risk. Accumulated rainfall could exceed 20 inches in some regions, heightening concerns about flooding and landslides.
On October 31, 2024, powerful winds from Typhoon Kong-rey blew off a roof in Hualien County, located in eastern Taiwan. Getty Images
Scientists point to warmer ocean temperatures from climate change as a factor in the increased intensity of storms. Typhoon Kong-rey is the third to hit Taiwan this year, following Typhoons Krathon and Gaemi. Earlier this month, Typhoon Krathon caused four fatalities due to severe rainfall in southern Taiwan.
As Kong-rey moves into the northern Taiwan Strait, forecasts suggest it will continue toward the East China Sea and eventually Japan. Meanwhile, the northern Philippines remains under threat from Kong-rey's outer bands, with local authorities conducting evacuations following the devastation from a previous storm that claimed over 130 lives.
