Super Typhoon Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan

KEELUNG, Taiwan — Super Typhoon Kong-rey (locally known in the Philippines as Leon) made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday as one of the most powerful storms to hit the island in years, whipping up 10-meter waves and forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Packing maximum wind speeds of 184 kilometers per hour (114 miles per hour), Kong-rey hit the east coast at Chenggong town in Taitung County at 1:40 pm (0540 GMT), the Central Weather Administration said.

It was the same strength as Typhoon Gaemi, which was the most powerful storm to hit Taiwan in eight years when it made landfall in July, but Kong-rey's radius of 320 kilometers made it the biggest in nearly three decades.

"Its impact on all of Taiwan will be quite severe," Chu Mei-lin from the state weather forecaster, Central Weather Administration, warned.

Work and schools across Taiwan were suspended on Thursday as people hunkered down ahead of the storm.

The streets of Taipei were largely deserted as bursts of heavy rain and fierce wind lashed the capital.

"This typhoon feels very strong," 52-year-old office worker Kevin Lin told AFP as he enjoyed a day off at home.

"I'm used to the many typhoons in Taiwan and I don't feel scared."

At least 27 people have been injured in the wild weather, with trees knocked down and four mudslides recorded, the National Fire Agency said Thursday, without providing details.

Authorities were still trying to contact two Czech tourists who were believed to be hiking in Taroko Gorge in Hualien after they could not be reached on their satellite and mobile phones.

More than 400 domestic and international flights were cancelled while all ferry services were suspended. Around 18,000 homes lost power, but most have been reconnected, disaster officials said.

Taiwanese tech giant TSMC said it had "activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures" at its chip-making facilities and did not expect a "significant impact" on operations.

Kong-rey was travelling at a "relatively fast" 21 kilometers per hour as it swept across the sea towards Hualien and Taitung counties, Chu from the state weather forecaster said.

The storm was expected to weaken after hitting land and then move