2 killed as Typhoon Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan

At least two people have been killed by Typhoon Kong-rey with wind speeds approaching 200 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane, made landfall in Taitung county on the afternoon of October 31, making it the largest storm to hit Taiwan since Typhoon Herb in 1996 according to CNN.

High winds bashed Taiwan island on October 31 as the largest typhoon to hit the island in nearly three decades made landfall along its southeast coast, killing at least two and injuring more than 500 , according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC)

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Ahead of the powerful storm, local authorities ordered offices and schools to temporarily close, while Taiwan suspended trading on its stock market.

The Taiwanese military put more than 34,000 soldiers on standby to assist with rescue efforts and over 8,600 people had been evacuated from high-risk areas on Wednesday, the CEOC said.

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More than 500 flights, including 300 international journeys, have been canceled, and all ferry services to Taiwan’s outlying islands have been suspended, according to Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration. High-speed rail services are operating at limited capacity, according to the rail operator, while the Taipei metro said it had suspended services on open-air sections.

CNN