Typhoon Krathon hits Taiwan

At least two people have been killed as Typhoon Krathon slammed into southwestern Taiwan, bringing the island to a standstill for a second day.

Krathon made landfall as a much weaker Category 1 typhoon at about noon on Thursday in the major port city of Kaohsiung.

Residents were warned by text message to seek shelter from gusts of more than 160kmph (100mph). The port was lashed by record gusts exceeding 220kmph (137mph).

Authorities reported that two people had died as the typhoon brought torrential rains across Taiwan, both on the mountainous and sparsely populated east coast. One fell while trimming a tree and the other’s vehicle was hit by a rock.

“It’s very powerful,” said Chou Yi-tang, a government official in Siaogang district, home to Kaohsiung’s airport. “It’s been a long time since such a big storm made a landfall here.”