Typhoon Hits, Taiwan Deploys Nearly 40 Thousand Troops

JAKARTA - Taiwan deployed nearly 40,000 troops to step up rescue efforts as the powerful Topan Krathon approached its densely populated southwest coast, expected to carry storm waves.

The coast guard 'races' to find 19 sailors who left the ship.

Taiwan is often hit by hurricanes but generally occurs along the mountainous east coast and a sparse population, overlooking the Pacific, but this typhoon will hit the flatland in the western part of the island.

Krathon is expected to hit the city of Kaohsiung's main port on Wednesday, October 2 afternoon, then cross Taiwan's center to the northeast and cross into the East China Sea, the Central Weather Agency (CWA) said.

Kaohsiung, which is inhabited by about 2.7 million people, declared a holiday and asked the public to stay at home as Krathon labelled a super typhoon by the US Navy Joint Typhoon Warning Center approached.

Li Meng-siang, a weather forecaster at Taiwan's Central Weather Agency, said the storm had reached its maximum intensity and may have weakened slightly as it moved closer to Taiwan, warning of wind gusts of more than 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph) to the southwest.

"The storm wave may bring the tide to the mainland," Li said.

"If it rains heavily, it will make it difficult to dump water and as a result coastal areas will be prone to flooding," he added.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said the storm's strength and path was equivalent to the 1977 Topan Thelma which killed 37 people and destroyed the city.

"After the typhoon, the entire Kaohsiung was waterless and electric, like war," Chen said, recalling the devastation that occurred decades ago.

"As much as possible, limit the exit of the house," he appealed.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it had put more than 38,000 troops on standby, while residents of Kaohsiung made their own preparations.

"The storm will attack us directly. We have to be fully prepared," said fisherman Chen Ming-huang, as he tightened his rope at the port of Kaohsiung.

"In the worst case scenario, my body might break and my boat could drift away," he said.