UPDATE - Typhoon Kong-rey hits Taiwan hard, kills foreign national

UPDATE - ADDED MORE DETAIL, ONE DEAD, CHANGED HEADLINE, LEDE

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – Typhoon Kong-rey has claimed the life of one foreign national in Nantou County as authorities evacuated thousands of people to safe shelters and closed schools and businesses across the island, local media reported on Thursday.

Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall Thursday afternoon, wreaking havoc across Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain, causing landslides, blowing over streetlights and trees, and flooding streets, reports Focus Taiwan.

So far, 73 people have been injured in rain- and flood-related accidents, and authorities have evacuated nearly 10,000 people to shelters.

The Central Weather Administration said super Typhoon Kong-rey is the largest cyclone to hit Taiwan in 27 years, as the last time a typhoon of comparable strength with a radius of maximum wind larger than 300km (186 miles) made landfall was Typhoon Herb in 1996, according to Taipei Times.

Authorities said they have also made contact with two missing Czech tourists, who are safe.

Local authorities also evacuated residents to safe places in New Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, as well as Hsinchu, Nantou, Pingtung, Yilan, Hualien and Taitung counties.

Kong-rey also forced authorities to cancel 527 domestic and international flights.

Earlier, authorities announced the closing of workplaces and schools across the island due to the approaching storm.

Authorities also asked people to stay at home and directed banks and financial markets to remain closed due to heavy rain and storms.

However essential services, including police, fire services, utilities, and emergency services at hospitals, remained open to the public.

On Tuesday, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said that they rescued 17 crew members from a Chinese-registered cargo ship.

Separately, in the Philippines, the weather agency lowered the storm alert in Batanes, the country’s northernmost province, to No. 4 as it was expected to weaken in the next 12 hours.

Nathaniel Servando, head of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, said the super typhoon has maintained its strength while moving northwestward near Batanes, the Manila Times reported.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid