2 dead and thousands evacuated as a typhoon approaches Taiwan

An approaching typhoon bringing strong winds and torrential rainfall to Taiwan killed one person and injured dozens of others over the past few days and led to the evacuation of thousands from low-lying or mountainous areas.

At least 70 people were injured and two people died due to weather conditions attributed to Typhoon Krathon, Taiwan's National Fire Agency said Wednesday.

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 km/h (108 mph) and gusts of 209 km/h (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 centimetres (4.2 feet) of rain has fallen in coastal Taitung county in the past four days and 43 centimetres (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.

A car moves along the shore in Kaohsiung, Southern Taiwan, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, as Typhoon Krathon is expected to hit the area. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

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