Tropical storms are forming closer to shore in this area, gaining intensity more quickly and causing damage longer after making landfall, due to climate change, experts say.
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The death toll from Typhoon Krathon, which swept across the south of the island of Taiwan on Thursday, October 3, increased by two new deaths, bringing the number of those killed to four, the authorities announced on Saturday. Two missing people were found dead on Saturday in New Taipei (north), the National Fire Agency said, without giving details. The typhoon also injured 700 people across the island.
As of Saturday morning, 20,000 homes were still without electricity, mainly in the coastal city of Kaohsiung (southwest) where the typhoon made landfall. In New Taipei City, heavy rains caused landslides and flooded streets, temporarily stranding dozens of students in their schools, authorities said. In Kaohsiung and the neighboring city of Pingtung, around 1,500 soldiers were deployed to participate in relief operations. Residents of mountainous areas are also invited to stay at home, because the waterlogged soils are very unstable, reports the Taipei Times on his site.