TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) visited the Central Emergency Operations Center (中央災害應變中心) on Monday (Sept. 30) to inspect preparations for Typhoon Krathon.
He engaged in a video conference with eight counties to coordinate response efforts.
Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚) announced a suspension of work and classes from 6 p.m. and requested additional support for the county's communication infrastructure. Premier Cho instructed the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部) to expedite maintenance and support for these systems.
The Central Emergency Operations Center held its fifth meeting at 2 p.m., with Premier Cho overseeing the session. The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) reported that Typhoon Krathon is slowly approaching Taiwan from the southeast, with increasing intensity. The storm will impact the entire island from today through Oct. 3.
Heavy rainfall is expected in eastern, northern, and southern Taiwan, with up to 1,300 millimeters in Taitung's mountainous areas and 1,000 millimeters in Hualien's mountainous regions.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) noted multiple landslides on the Suhua Highway, prompting preemptive road closures.
International and cross-strait flights remain operational, but 22 out of 272 domestic flights have been canceled. Preventive evacuations have begun in Taitung County, Pingtung County, and Kaohsiung City, with 897 people relocated by 1 p.m. Hualien County also initiated evacuations at 2 p.m.
Authorities have cleared 497 people from coastal areas to ensure public safety. Premier Cho urged all departments to remain vigilant and use disaster prevention technology to minimize the impact, emphasizing the need for preventive evacuation measures to protect lives.