Super Typhoon Kong-rey to hit southeastern Taiwan on 31 October

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Super Typhoon Kong-rey is set to make landfall on Taitung County in the southeastern coast of Taiwan on 31 October, bringing heavy rains and strong gusts.

At 07:00 local time Wednesday (23:00 GMT on 29 October), Kong-rey was on the southeast of Cape Eluanbi, Taiwan’s southernmost point, packing maximum winds of 173 kilometers/hour near its center and moving northwest, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA).

Typhoon warnings have been issued by the CWA for Pingtung County, Hualien County and Taitung County, all located in the sparsely populated southern and eastern parts of Taiwan.

There have been no reports of major disruptions to petrochemical plants as of midday.

An advisory of heavy rain or extremely heavy rain has been issued for Keelung north coast and mountainous areas in Greater Taipei and Yilan, the CWA said.

Taiwan’s capital of Taipei is expected to be hit by heavy rains.

The typhoon is most likely to make landfall in Hualien County between noon and evening on 31 October, the CWA added.

Kong-rey is then forecast to cross southern Taiwan, enter the Taiwan Strait and head towards China’s southern coastal provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian, according to the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) on 29 October.

The typhoon is expected to weaken before it reaches China’s coast, but heavy-to-torrential rains can be expected in Fujian, Zhejiang, Shanghai and southern Jiangsu province from Wednesday to 1 November, the CMA said.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has urged people away from the mountains and coast.

Disaster officials in Taitung County have asked fishers to return to shore and secure their boats, while ferry services to outlying islands were suspended.

Taiwan, which is frequently visited by typhoons, was last hit by Typhoon Krathon on 3 October, leading to at least four deaths after it hit the southwestern city of Kaohsiung and bringing heavy rain, as well as causing widespread power outages.