Taipei, Taiwan – Cleanup crews and residents across Taiwan worked tirelessly on Friday, November 1, to recover from the devastation left by Typhoon Kong-rey, which struck the island with wind gusts reaching 184 km/h. The storm has tragically claimed at least two lives and injured over 500 individuals, according to reports from the National Fire Agency.

The storm hit eastern Taiwan hard, causing significant flooding and triggering landslides. One of the victims was a 48-year-old motorcyclist killed by a falling power pole in Taipei. Rescue operations are currently ongoing for four individuals who went missing in the mountainous central region, recalling the dangers nature holds when typhoons strike.

In a remarkable turn of events amidst the chaos, two Czech hikers trapped in the famous Taroko Gorge were successfully rescued on Friday after enduring the storm's fury.

As Typhoon Kong-rey weakened into a severe tropical storm and began its trajectory towards China, life in Taiwan gradually began to return to normal. Offices, schools, and restaurants reopened their doors, although around 78,500 households remained without power, and a staggering 191 flights were cancelled. Restrictions on ferry services and train lines added to the travel disruptions felt across the island.

One resident, Pan Li-chu, shared her experience, describing winds so fierce they transformed her restaurant’s awning into a tangle of bent metal. "The typhoon was so strong yesterday," she remarked, highlighting the ferocity of the storm.

Nature's Fury: Mudslides and Flooding

The sheer volume of rain brought by Kong-rey was devastating; some areas received more than a meter of rain, leading to frightening mudslides and debris flows. A resident from Toucheng town recounted a narrow escape from a mudslide that rushed into his backyard while he was watching television. "When I opened the door, I saw a mudslide coming down slowly. I picked up my car key and rushed out,” 55-year-old Wu Hsuan-kai explained.

Reports from Taitung County indicated no severe damage, primarily attributed to falling trees and encountered power outages. However, in Hualien County, residents faced a stark reality as they began assessing damages to homes affected by widespread landslides. One villager described a chilling atmosphere: “I can’t go inside (my home). In some houses, the mudslides are more than waist-high.”

Almost 90 schools were affected, with rapid response from authorities to address power and water outages in several townships.

Community Resilience and Support

As dawn broke, workers began clearing streets of debris. “We started cleaning from 5 am, and after two and a half hours, we have only cleared one road section,” shared Lee Chia-hsin, a member of New Taipei City’s cleaning crew. In a heartwarming show of solidarity, Australian firefighter calendar models visiting Taiwan for a charity event donned high-visibility vests to assist local cleanup efforts.

Authorities also faced an environmental challenge as they scrambled to contain 284 tonnes of oil from a Chinese carrier that ran aground due to the storm's impact.

Typhoon Kong-rey's intensity raised alarms prior to landfall, with more than 11,500 residents evacuating their homes. The storm's strength echoed that of Typhoon Gaemi, which was recognized as one of the most powerful storms to hit Taiwan in recent years.

Experts have been increasingly vocal about the impact of climate change on the frequency and strength of typhoons. They warn that the evolving weather patterns are likely to lead to even more severe storms in the future.

As Taiwan rebuilds and recovers, the resilience of its people shines through, proving that, together, they can overcome the aftermath of nature's wrath.