Sylvie Claire / October 5, 2024
The death toll from Typhoon Krathon, which swept across the south of the island of Taiwan on Thursday, has risen by two, bringing the total to four, the authorities announced on Saturday.
Two missing persons were found dead on Saturday in New Taipei (north), said the National Fire Agency, without giving details.
The typhoon also injured 700 people.
Across the island, 20,000 homes were still without power on Saturday, mainly in the coastal city of Kaohsiung (southwest) where the typhoon made landfall.
In the city of New Taipei, heavy rains caused landslides and flooded streets, temporarily blocking dozens of pupils from their schools, according to the authorities.
In Kaohsiung and neighboring Pingtung, around 1,500 military personnel were deployed to help with the rescue operations, according to the Ministry of Defense, which added that 250 soldiers had been mobilized in New Taipei and Keelung to help clear the roads.
The island of Taiwan is used to tropical storms, which are frequent between July and October. But according to experts, they are forming closer to the coast, gaining in intensity more quickly and lasting longer after making landfall, due to climate change.