Typhoon Krathon – live: Taiwan braces for powerful storm after ‘very destructive’ rainfall in Philippines

See the forecast, warnings and path of Typhoon Krathon for the next two days:

Typhoon Krathon is continuing to intensify as it churns towars Taiwan.

The storm is currently located approximately 260 kilometres southeast of Taiwan’s southernmost point, Cape Eluanbi.

It is slowly moving west-northwest at 5 kmph, with maximum sustained winds of 213 kmph and gusts up to 260 kmph, making it close to a Category 4 hurricane.

Krathon’s approach is causing heavy rainfall and dangerous conditions across Taiwan's eastern and southern regions.

As Typhoon Krathon inches closer to Taiwan, eastern regions have already begun to experience its impact.

From last night, heavy rainfall has been battering the area, causing landslides along Provincial Highway No 9, disrupting traffic between Su'ao in Yilan County and Chongde in Hualien, Focus Taiwan reported.

Several vehicles were trapped near Huide Tunnel, though no injuries were reported.

All stranded individuals were successfully rescued, and the blocked sections of the highway were closed as a precaution.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has issued heavy rain alerts for Taiwan’s eastern counties, with rainfall expected to exceed 80 mm within 24 hours.

Taiwan’s national parks, beaches, and ferry services have also been suspended as safety measures. Transportation between Hualien and Taitung, along with sections of the South Link Line, has been halted due to the storm's progression.

Krathon is expected to make landfall on Taiwan's southern coast tomorrow, with strong winds and torrential rain likely to affect the island through Thursday.

As Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan, 521 people have been evacuated from the mountainous regions of Kaohsiung today in anticipation of severe weather.

Local authorities issued landslide warnings for the districts of Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia, and Liugui, prompting evacuations.

Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chi-mai inspected disaster preparedness measures, including flood control systems and the city’s 91 pumping stations, Taiwan News reported.

Kaohsiung is bracing for heavy rainfall, with estimates suggesting up to 800 mm in the mountainous areas.

Schools were moved online and 23,000 sandbags have been distributed across the city to help residents prepare for flooding.

A forecast animation from Zoom Earth, a privately-run weather tracker, shows Typhoon Krathon’s projected path as it heads toward southern Taiwan.

The animation shows the typhoon's intense wind gusts and possible landfall near Kaohsiung, with winds expected to exceed 200 kmph.

However, the storm's interaction with Taiwan's mountainous terrain could lead to unpredictable changes in its direction, making the exact landfall location difficult to forecast.

A satellite image taken from Japan's Himawari-9 a while back shows Typhoon Krathon swirling over the Luzon Strait, between the Philippines and Taiwan.

The well-defined eye and dense cloud bands show that Krathon has grown in strength, as it moves northwest toward Taiwan.

The typhoon's spiral structure is clear, with intense thunderstorms surrounding the eye, a hallmark of a strong storm.

Coastal and national park areas have been closed in Taiwan as a precaution, and ferry services have been suspended across several regions.

The rail line connecting southern Taiwan to the east coast was halted on Monday afternoon due to the storm, though the north-south high-speed railway continues to operate as normal.

Despite the disruptions, international flights from Taipei have not yet been affected, according to the transport ministry.