Grapevine

Thousands evacuated as Super Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan

Taiwan closed schools and evacuated thousands of people in the south of the island Tuesday ahead of the arrival of Super Typhoon Krathon, with the president warning it was likely to cause "catastrophic damage".

Krathon—packing sustained winds of 198 kilometers per hour (123 miles per hour), equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, and gusts of up to 245 kph—was expected to make landfall Wednesday near the major port city of Kaohsiung.

Offices and schools were closed across southern and eastern Taiwan and the interior ministry said more than 7,800 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas as a precaution.

President Lai Ching-te warned Krathon would "inevitably cause catastrophic damage".

"The path of Krathon is relatively rare, entering from the south and exiting from the east. Therefore we must be particularly vigilant," he said at a government briefing.