TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Krathon (山陀兒) is poised to make landfall in southwestern Taiwan on Wednesday (Oct. 2) afternoon, marking the first intense typhoon to hit the region since Typhoon Elsie in 1966, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署).
As of 10 a.m. today, Typhoon Krathon's center was located at latitude 20.7 degrees north and longitude 119.6 degrees east, approximately 220 kilometers south-southwest of Kaohsiung. Moving north-northeast at speeds of 4 to 10 kilometers per hour, the typhoon is expected to intensify as it approaches land.
The CWA reported that Typhoon Kratho strengthened into an intense typhoon at 2:30 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 53 meters per second and gusts reaching 65 meters per second by 7 a.m., located 180 kilometers southwest of Eluanbi. The storm's radius of 220 kilometers has prompted land warnings for Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Hengchun Peninsula, and Taitung.
Meteorologists warn that heavy rain and strong winds will increase tonight, with the eastern and southern regions, including New Taipei City's mountainous areas, facing the highest risk of torrential rain. On Wednesday, widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across Taiwan, with localized heavy rain in central and southern regions, Hualien, Taitung, Hengchun Peninsula, and Yilan.
By Thursday, the typhoon will gradually move northeast, but Taiwan will still experience residual rain and thunderstorms. Coastal areas, including Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, should prepare for strong winds and high waves. Authorities urge residents to stay indoors and avoid coastal activities due to the high risk of dangerous waves and strong gusts.
