Taiwan is being battered by strong winds and rain from a powerful typhoon that is likely to make landfall on Thursday. Taiwanese officials say that at least two people have been killed, two are missing, and 123 others have been injured.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration says Typhoon Krathon is expected to make landfall in southern Taiwan around Thursday noon.
The typhoon was almost stationary over waters south of Taiwan as of 8 a.m. local time. It had a central atmospheric pressure of 975 hectopascals.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of about 126 kilometers per hour at its center, with peak gusts of 180 kilometers per hour.
Winds of at least 90 kilometers per hour were blowing in areas within 95 kilometers of the typhoon’s center.
Offices and schools remain closed in all counties and cities across Taiwan for a second day on Thursday.
The typhoon is likely to gradually weaken and become a tropical depression after making landfall.
Weather officials in Japan say Typhoon Krathon could bring warning-level torrential rain to Okinawa’s main island on Thursday and to the Sakishima Islands through Friday. They are urging people in these regions to be on the alert for high waves, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.