As Typhoon Krathon dissipates, Taiwan resumes flights and work

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Work, classes, and flights resumed across Taiwan after Typhoon Krathon, which brought torrential rainfall to the island, finally dissipated over a mountain range.

While a heavy rain advisory remained in effect for the northern coast and mountainous areas, where two landslides occurred early on October 4, the storm weakened to a tropical depression and moved back over the sea after making a "U-turn" across the island's southwestern tip overnight.

Schools and businesses reopened across the island, except for the city of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, and parts of Hualien and New Taipei. Domestic flights also resumed after being grounded for two days.

Krathon brought winds of up to 126 kph (78 mph) to Kaohsiung, felling trees and flooding roads. Heavy rains also led to flooding along Taiwan's southern and eastern coasts, with Taitung County receiving 171 centimeters (5.6 feet) of rain over six days.

Two people died earlier in the week, and one person remained missing after being swept off a bridge, according to Taiwan's fire department.

Authorities initially feared Krathon would cause damage comparable to a major typhoon that swept Kaohsiung in 1977, resulting in 37 deaths. However, the storm lost strength shortly after making landfall in Kaohsiung and reaching the nearby mountains, according to the Central Weather Administration.

Krathon became one of only two typhoons in recent history to "die" over Taiwan, alongside Typhoon Trami in 2001, the weather agency reported.