Typhoon Kong-rey has wreaked havoc in Taiwan, causing casualties and widespread damage. According to statistics from the Taiwan Disaster Response Center, as of 7 a.m. today (November 1), Typhoon Kong-rey has resulted in 2 deaths and 515 injuries, with a total of 6,917 reported incidents of disaster. A total of 12,550 volunteers have been mobilized across the island.
The Taiwan Central Weather Bureau issued both sea and land typhoon warnings for the mild typhoon Kong-rey, with its center positioned at 27.2 degrees north latitude and 121.1 degrees east longitude at 10 a.m. today, approximately 170 kilometers northeast of Matsu, moving northeast to east-northeast at a speed of 34 to 46 kilometers per hour.
The latest data shows that the intensity of Typhoon Kong-rey has weakened over the past 3 hours, with its current center located northeast of Matsu’s seas. The typhoon is continuing its movement towards east-northeast to east-northeast, with Taiwan Island now out of the storm circle. While it still poses a threat to Matsu, it is expected that the typhoon’s intensity will continue to decrease and the storm circle will shrink.
According to the Taiwan Central Disaster Response Center, as of 7 a.m. today, Typhoon Kong-rey has resulted in a total of 2 deaths, 515 injuries, and 6,917 incidents of disaster across Taiwan. The fatalities include a 48-year-old man in Neihu District, Taipei, who was fatally injured by a utility pole, and a 56-year-old woman in Nantou County, who suffered a cardiac arrest (OHCA) inside a blue delivery truck crushed by a tree. Additionally, a man in his 50s in New Taipei City died after falling from the roof of a 5-story building in Zhonghe District, although this incident was not classified as a typhoon-related disaster.
President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lai Ching-te inspected the Central Disaster Response Center on October 31, commending the full cooperation between central and local authorities in disaster response efforts. The military was put on high alert for disaster prevention and relief. Lai expressed gratitude for the cooperation between the public and private sectors, highlighting the readiness of counties and cities with low-orbit satellites, with Hualien County having 6 units to ensure communication safety.
Lai Ching-te posted on Facebook today, acknowledging the concentrated impact of Typhoon Kong-rey on various regions and the challenges faced by frontline workers during the severe weather conditions. He expressed gratitude to all personnel dedicated to disaster response and relief efforts, including the military personnel assisting in disaster recovery. Over a thousand personnel have been deployed, and the central government will continue to closely collaborate with local authorities to facilitate the swift return to normalcy for affected areas and residents.
The Taipei City Government’s Public Works Bureau reported significant damages caused by Typhoon Kong-rey across the city. As of 11 p.m. on October 31, the reported incidents included over 2,000 damaged trees, 390 cases of damage to public welfare and infrastructure, 318 damaged buildings, 307 damaged advertisements, 16 cases of flooding, and 16 cases of mudslides. From October 31 to 11 p.m., the Public Works Bureau and its engineering departments mobilized 1,894 personnel, 446 equipment, and 395 vehicles to carry out emergency relief operations amid the stormy conditions.
The Taipei City Disaster Prevention and Rescue Office announced that Typhoon Kong-rey has resulted in one fatality and 83 injuries in the city. As of 6 a.m. today, power restoration had yet to be completed for 1,237 households.
The Taiwan Railways Administration released a press statement today, detailing the restoration efforts following Typhoon Kong-rey. The North-South Line (Keelung to Fangliao), Yilan Line (Badu to Su’ao), and South-Link Line (Fangliao to Taitung) have resumed operations. However, the East-Link Line, Hualien-Taitung Line, and certain other sections are still undergoing inspection and repair work. The Xike Station’s West-East Line on the West Coast Line suffered damage to the overhead lines due to the typhoon’s impact, requiring about 3 hours for repair. During this time, trains between Xizhi and Nangang will operate on a single-track system.
The Eastern Region Maintenance Engineering Division of the Highway Bureau stated that there was a mudslide at 161.3 kilometers on Provincial Highway 9 near the Huidetunnel entrance, involving approximately 12,000 cubic meters of earth and rock. The road is expected to reopen by noon on November 2, with other sections resuming traffic by 9 a.m.
On October 31, Hualien County was hit by Typhoon Kong-rey, resulting in impassable roads due to flooding and numerous tin roofs being blown off. Early this morning, Hualien experienced a magnitude 5.5 earthquake near the coast. The Taiwan Railways Administration announced that due to the earthquake, the Guigu between Ji’an and Zhi-xue stations had an unstable northbound structure, prompting temporary closure for assessment by engineering professionals to ensure safety before considering resuming full service.
Additionally, severe damage to power equipment has been reported between Fuyuan and Guangfu in Hualien County, with an estimated repair time of about 10 hours. In the Jingshan and Beipu section of Hualien County, power equipment damage has been discovered during inspections, with an estimated repair time of approximately 6 hours. The Taiwan Railways Administration is working to repair damages along the West Coast Line, with the East-Link Line undergoing multiple repair operations, including the North-Link Line, Hualien-Taitung Line, and other affected routes.