2 dead and thousands evacuated as a typhoon approaches Taiwan

One elderly man died after falling off a ladder while pruning tree branches in the eastern city of Hualien. Another was an elderly man in the southeastern Taitung county who crashed into fallen rocks while driving. Two others were missing.

The typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 173 kph (108 mph) and gusts of 209 kph (130 mph), was expected to make landfall early Thursday on Taiwan’s densely populated west coast, according to the Central Weather Administration. The strongest winds are expected on the island's southwest portion.

Typhoons rarely hit Taiwan’s west coast, affecting instead the mountainous eastern side of the island.

At least 128 centimeters (4.2 feet) of rain has fallen in coastal Taitung county in the past four days and 43 centimeters (17 inches) in the major port city of Kaohsiung ahead of the typhoon.

Authorities shut schools and government offices across the island and canceled all domestic flights.

In Hualien county, more than 3,000 people were evacuated from townships vulnerable to landslides. Almost 200 people in the southwestern city of Tainan and more than 800 residents of the southern Pingtung county were also evacuated.

Kaohsiung, a city of 2.7 million people expected to be directly hit by the typhoon, evacuated more than 2,500 of its residents from areas prone to mudslides and landslides. Military personnel helped evacuees into trucks which took them to temporary shelters.

Most stores and restaurants in the city remained closed for a second consecutive day. Shoppers emptied supermarket shelves of essentials including bread, meat and instant noodles.

Streets and markets were eerily empty. An industrial harbor south of the city was at a standstill.

Kaohsiung’s international airport looked deserted, with all flights canceled. Chan Ka Who, who had traveled there from Malaysia on vacation, said he was trying to return home but was stuck in Kaohsiung because all flights were grounded.

On Wednesday evening, the typhoon was centered about 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Kaohsiung and was moving northeast at around 8 kph (5 mph). It has been weakening and will continue to do so after landfall, the weather administration said.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai earlier warned residents against approaching areas prone to flooding and landslides near rivers, the sea and the mountains. He likened Krathon’s intensity to that of Typhoon Thelma, which in 1977 badly damaged Kaohsiung and caused 37 deaths.

Almost 40,000 troops were on standby to help with rescue efforts.

In Pingtung county, residents near a flooded harbor piled up sandbags at their doors to prevent water from getting in. People waded through streets flooded up to their ankles.

The typhoon on Monday lashed the northern Philippine islands, where four people were killed and at least 5,000 were displaced, officials said.