What's happened
Typhoon Krathon, which impacted Taiwan with heavy rains and winds, has weakened to a tropical depression. While schools and businesses have reopened, two landslides occurred, and two fatalities have been reported. The storm caused significant rainfall, particularly in Taitung County, leading to flooding and travel disruptions.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Typhoon Krathon caused significant disruption, with winds reaching up to 126 kph and heavy rainfall leading to landslides. The article notes that two fatalities were reported, with one person still missing. The New York Times highlighted the storm's slow approach, which allowed for relentless rain, particularly in Taitung County, where over 4.5 feet of rain fell. The report emphasized the rarity of such powerful storms making landfall on Taiwan's western plains. Stuti Mishra from The Independent pointed out that Krathon was expected to bring catastrophic damage, but it weakened shortly after landfall, reducing the anticipated devastation.
How we got here
Typhoon Krathon approached Taiwan as a powerful storm, initially classified as a Category 3-equivalent. It made landfall near Kaohsiung, causing widespread closures and evacuations. The storm's slow movement resulted in prolonged rainfall, particularly affecting southern regions.
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Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. Neighbouring countries include the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south.
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