ANKARA
At least two people were killed and more than 100 others injured as powerful Typhoon Krathon disrupted normal life in Taiwan, local media reported on Wednesday.
Authorities closed schools and offices as heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon lashed the island, Focus Taiwan reported, citing the Central Emergency Operation Center.
The slow-moving storm, which is expected to make landfall in southern Taiwan on Thursday morning, also caused widespread service disruptions, it said.
Public transportation in several areas, including Taipei, was suspended starting Wednesday afternoon.
The Central Weather Administration has issued a land warning for 13 cities and counties as the typhoon approaches.
As of Wednesday, Typhoon Krathon was located 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kaohsiung, moving north-northeast at 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour.
With a radius of 200 kilometers (124 miles), the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour (89 miles per hour), with gusts of up to 180 kilometers per hour (119 miles per hour).
Taiwan Railway Corp. has suspended all trains with reserved seating for the day, the media outlet said.
So far, 102 people have been injured in weather-related incidents, while, 9,597 people have been evacuated from various towns and cities to safer areas, according to Focus Taiwan.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid
