Typhoon Kong-rey Batters Taiwan, Shuts Down Cities

Typhoon Kong-rey, a massive and powerful storm, has struck Taiwan, causing widespread disruptions. The typhoon, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, prompted city closures, flight cancellations, and military readiness for rescue operations. Despite the storm's scale and strength, no injuries have been reported so far.

Typhoon Kong-rey hit Taiwan's eastern coast on Thursday, leading to widespread closures and hundreds of flight cancellations as the island faced its largest storm in 30 years. Financial markets shut down, and officials urged citizens to remain indoors as the storm brought strong winds and heavy rain.

The typhoon, once categorized as a super storm, retained potent strength with gusts exceeding 250 kph. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te appealed for public cooperation in staying safe, warning against risky behavior such as wave watching.

Environmental teams faced additional challenges as they worked to prevent oil leaks from a stranded Chinese cargo ship amid the storm. Despite high winds and significant rainfall, there have been no reports of injuries, though property damage and power outages were noted.

(With inputs from agencies.)