TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taitung at 1:40 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 31), according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象局). The storm has prompted warnings of heavy rain and significant disruptions across the region. In Taitung, fierce winds and waves exceeding 10 meters have battered the Beinan River (卑南溪) outlet, toppling trees and bending road signs.
In Hualien, heavy rain caused a tree to fall on Provincial Highway 9 (台九線), leading to a collision involving a large truck and briefly halting traffic. Floodwaters from the Jian River (吉安溪) inundated a nearby culvert, trapping a motorcyclist in rising waters. Meanwhile, in Zhuoxi Township (卓溪鄉), mudslides, rocks, and branches have surged into the area, prompting local officials and police to assist with evacuations.
Yanliao Village (鹽寮村), a popular tourist destination on the Pacific coast, is currently facing level 10 gusts. These severe weather conditions highlight the typhoon's intense impact on the region's infrastructure and daily life.