The powerful Typhoon Kong-rai, one of the most severe to hit Taiwan in recent years, made landfall at noon in Chongqing (southeast) and has already caused the death of at least one person, while at least 205 people were injured, according to a new report from authorities.
The typhoon, accompanied by gale-force winds of 184 kph and torrential rain, arrived at about 13:40 local time (07:40 GMT) in the southeastern part of the country, which is the most sparsely populated part of this island of 23 million people.
Trees uprooted by strong winds have fallen on cars, blocking roads and hampering operations by authorities, an official in a community in the eastern province of Hualien, the worst affected, told Agence France-Presse.
A 56-year-old woman was killed after a tree fell on her vehicle in Nantu County (central), the country’s firefighting agency said, while 205 other people were injured.
Before the storm’s arrival, 10-meter-high waves swept the coast and at least 27 people were injured by the rainfall, mostly from landslides, according to the same agency.
At least 34 landslides were recorded, 162 buildings were damaged and 366 trees fell, the same source said.
More than 400 domestic and international flights were canceled, all ferry services were suspended and more than 250,000 households were plunged into darkness.
