Thai-phoon trouble: Flights grounded as Kong-rey storms Taiwan (video)
Chaos reigned in the skies as Thai Airways International grounded several flights with typhoon Kong-rey barrelling towards Taiwan.
The airline pulled the plug on three Bangkok-Taipei routes yesterday, October 30 (TG634, TG636, and TG635) and grounded TG637 today, leaving travellers in a tailspin. Announcing the shutdown on Facebook, the national carrier urged affected passengers to dial their hotline at 662-356-1111 for rebooking and updates.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Taiwan has hunkered down, bracing for the typhoon’s wrath with a complete shutdown across the island. Government officials declared a day off for all cities, pulled the plug on financial markets, and cancelled a whopping 298 international flights to preempt the storm, predicted to slam into Taiwan’s east coast at around 2pm local time, according to the Central Weather Administration.
Once a super typhoon, Kong-rey may have tempered down but is still packing a punch as strong as a Category 4 hurricane. Winds exceeding 250 kilometres per hour and heavy rainfall are on the cards, as reported by Tropical Storm Risk. Taiwan’s weather boffins have branded it a “strong typhoon”—the worst storm classification for the island in over 25 years.
Forecaster Gene Huang noted that the size of the storm is very large, and the winds are high, warning residents to stay indoors as Kong-rey pushes towards the Taiwan Strait.
The hardest hit will be the eastern county of Taitung, where warnings blast of devastating 160 km/h gusts. In Lanyu island, wind barometers were fizzing out after clocking gusts over 260 km/h. Experts predict up to 1.2 metres of rain in eastern Taiwan.
In a battle-ready move, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has unleashed 36,000 troops and safely evacuated 1,300 at-risk residents, advising against venturing near beautiful yet perilous mountains or coastlines.
Pumping the brakes on chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s operations have become routine typhoon procedures. Yet the supplier to tech titans like Apple and Nvidia remains unfazed by potential disruptions.
Taiwan’s Transport Ministry confirmed all domestic flights are now grounded, and 139 ferry services to and from outlying islands are axed. High-speed trains are still running but at a snail’s pace on the western plains.
Kong-rey is projected to swerve towards China, skimming the coast of Fujian province by dawn tomorrow, reported Bangkok Post. Taiwan, a frequent target for raging typhoons, is no stranger to calamity.
Just earlier this month, Typhoon Krathon left its mark, claiming four lives in its southern storm path.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Cathay Pacific is currently affected by Typhoon Kong-rey, with flights to/from Kaohsiung and Taipei cancelled and further disruptions possible, advising customers to check flight status and update contact details. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news.
Why do airlines often cancel flights in anticipation of typhoons?
Airlines cancel flights to ensure passenger safety, as severe weather can disrupt flight operations and increase the risk of accidents.
How does a super typhoon like Kong-rey impact Taiwan’s economy?
Super typhoons can disrupt economic activities by causing business closures, infrastructure damage, and transportation halts, impacting sectors like manufacturing and finance.
What if typhoon preparedness was not prioritized in Taiwan?
Lack of preparedness could lead to significant loss of life, widespread property damage, and prolonged recovery times, severely affecting the nation’s resilience.
What role does the military play during typhoon emergencies in Taiwan?
The military assists in evacuations, provides emergency relief, and supports infrastructure repair, ensuring public safety and swift recovery efforts.
How do typhoon alerts affect global tech supply chains?
Alerts can lead to temporary production halts, impacting supply chains, especially for key tech companies relying on Taiwanese manufacturing facilities.
