Taiwan closed on Wednesday due to the arrival of a weakening Typhoon Krathon, which is expected to bring storm surges along the coast and torrential rain. The administration of Kaohsiung, a crucial port city directly in the direction of the storm’s eye, warned citizens to stay at home and away from the sea, rivers, and mountains, fearing a recurrence of 1977’s Typhoon Thelma, which killed 37 people and damaged the city of 2.7 million.

Taiwan is frequently battered by typhoons, but they usually land on the island’s hilly and thinly populated east coast facing the Pacific, whereas Krathon will make landfall on the flat western plain. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) predicts it will hit between Kaohsiung and Tainan in the early hours of Thursday, then move up the west coast toward Taipei, the capital. On Wednesday, all cities and counties in Taiwan announced a day off, effectively closing the financial markets. Domestic flights have been cancelled for the day, along with 246 foreign flights.

The typhoon has decreased, but the threat of a storm surge, strong winds, and rain persists as it slowly approaches Taiwan’s shore, according to the weather administration. “Because Typhoon Gaemi was so severe earlier this year, everyone is more cautious and prepared this time,” sales representative Yu Ren-yu, 35, said while picking up sandbags at a government office, referring to a storm in July that killed 11 people. “First be prepared, then we can face this typhoon.” Chou Yi-tang, a government official working in the Siaogang district, where the airport is located, stated that the typhoon has brought back negative memories of Thelma for the older generation, pushing inhabitants to take further measures.

tThe typhoon has subsided, but the potential of a storm surge, strong winds, and rain remains as it slowly approaches Taiwan’s shore, according to the weather bureau. “Because Typhoon Gaemi was so severe earlier this year, everyone is more cautious and prepared this time,” sales representative Yu Ren-yu, 35, said as he picked up sandbags at a government office, referring to the July typhoon that killed 11 people. “First be prepared, then we can face this typhoon.” Chou Yi-tang, a government official working in the Siaogang district, where the airport is located, warned that the typhoon has rekindled terrible memories of Thelma among the older generation, prompting residents to take further precautions.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a major Apple and Nvidia supplier, said Tuesday that the storm is unlikely to have a substantial impact on its operations. TSMC has factories throughout Taiwan’s west coast, especially in Tainan. KEYWORDS