TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Kong-rey (康芮颱風) battered Taiwan, leaving a trail of destruction. As of Friday (Nov. 1) at 8 a.m., the Central Emergency Operation Center (中央災害應變中心) reported two deaths and 515 injuries. The National Fire Agency (消防署) noted 6,917 incidents involving general disasters, such as fallen trees and road damage.
Taiwan's main island emerged from the storm's influence during the day, with Matsu (馬祖) expected to follow later. Authorities anticipate lifting all land warnings by the afternoon.
Across the island, only Lienchiang County (連江縣) suspended work and classes entirely, while 11 other counties and cities, including New Taipei City (新北市) and Taoyuan City (桃園市), experienced partial suspensions.
Taiwan Power Company (台電) revealed that power outages peaked at 747,770 households. By 10 p.m. last night, crews restored service to 604,433 households, leaving 143,337 still in the dark.
CWA Forecast Center Director Lin Po-tung (林伯東) from the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 氣象署) described Typhoon Kong-rey as the strongest and latest typhoon to make landfall in October in the past 20 years, and noted its massive size, with a storm radius of 320 kilometers, the largest since Typhoon Herb (賀伯颱風) in 1996.
