Hit By Topan Strong Kong-rey Today, Taiwan Announces Holidays, Financial Market Closes, Hundreds Of Flights Canceled

JAKARTA - Taiwan closed ahead of the arrival of the strong conglomerate Kong-rey on Thursday with all cities and districts announcing holidays, financial markets closed and hundreds of flights canceled.

The strong Typhoon of Kong-rey is expected to be the largest storm by size in 30 years. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration was quoted as saying by Reuters on Thursday, October 31, reports that storms are expected to land on the mountainous east coast and a rare population of around 2:00 (06: 00 GMT), with strong winds and heavy rains hitting nearly the entire island.

At one point of the super typhoon, Kong-rey weakened slightly overnight but remained strong as it was equivalent to the Category 4 storm with gusts of more than 250 kph (155 mph), according to Tropical Storm Risk.

Taiwan's weather administration said it would be the largest typhoon to hit the island since 1996.

Administrative forecast Gene Huang said, after hitting the east coast, the storm would head into the Taiwan Strait as a very weak storm and urged people across the island to stay at home due to the danger of strong winds.

"The size of the storm is very large and the wind is high," he said.

Warning for winds that damaged more than 160 kph (100 mph) was issued in the eastern region of Taitung, whose outermost Lanyu island recorded gusts above 260 kph (162 mph) before several barometers of the wind died there.

Rainfall up to 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) is expected to occur in eastern Taiwan with destructive winds along coastal areas, according to the government.

The defense ministry has placed 36,000 troops on standby to assist with temporary rescue efforts 1,300 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas before, the government said.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW), opened a new tab, the world's largest contract chipmaker and major supplier to companies like Apple (AAPL.O), opened a new tab and Nvidia (NVDA.O), opened a new tab, saying it had activated routine typhoon warning procedures at all factories and construction sites.