Connect with us

International News

Troops On Standby, Kaohsiung Shuts Down As Taiwan Prepares For Super Typhoon Krathon

Published

on

Kaohsiung braces for direct hit as residents and authorities prepare for the worst

Taiwan on Tuesday, mobilized nearly 40,000 troops to assist with emergency preparations and rescue operations as Super Typhoon Krathon nears the island’s heavily populated southwestern coast.

The storm, forecast to make landfall on Wednesday, is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges and intense winds, with residents being urged to stay indoors.

Read Also: Former Taraba Gov, Ex-Perm Sec Remanded Over Alleged N27bn Fraud

The island’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) has warned that Krathon, labeled a super typhoon by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center, could cause severe flooding along the coast, particularly in low-lying areas around the port city of Kaohsiung.

The city, home to 2.7 million people, has declared a public holiday, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay home as the storm approaches.

Coast guard officials are also engaged in a race against time to locate 19 sailors who abandoned their ship ahead of the storm.

Taiwan, no stranger to typhoons, typically experiences storms making landfall along its mountainous eastern coast.

However, Krathon’s predicted path across the western plains has heightened concerns about potential damage to more densely populated areas.

The CWA reports that the typhoon will make landfall near Kaohsiung before moving northeast across central Taiwan and exiting into the East China Sea.

Forecaster Li Meng-hsiang from the CWA warned of wind gusts exceeding 150 kph (93 mph) and raised concerns over the storm surge, which could cause tides to breach inland areas.

“If heavy rainfall coincides with the storm surge, it will severely hamper drainage, increasing the risk of widespread flooding,” Li said.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, addressing the public after a disaster response meeting, drew comparisons between Krathon and Typhoon Thelma, which devastated the city in 1977, killing 37 people and leaving the area without power or water.

“This storm’s strength and trajectory are similar to Thelma. We must take all necessary precautions,” Chen urged. “After Thelma, the city was left in a state of devastation. Please avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that over 38,000 military personnel have been placed on standby, ready to deploy for rescue operations and disaster relief efforts. Local residents, too, have been making preparations.

“It’s going to hit us directly, so we need to be fully prepared,” said Chen Ming-huang, a fisherman securing his boat in Kaohsiung’s harbor. “If the winds are too strong, the ropes might snap, and my boat could be lost.”

With Krathon poised to bring destructive winds, torrential rain, and the possibility of landslides, authorities across southern Taiwan are warning residents to remain vigilant and stock up on essentials.

As the storm draws closer, flights have been canceled, public transportation has been suspended, and schools and businesses across the region have closed in preparation for the typhoon’s landfall.

Krathon is expected to be one of the most powerful storms to strike Taiwan in recent years, with authorities warning that the combination of high winds, storm surge, and flooding could result in significant damage.

Taiwan is bracing for the worst, as Kaohsiung and the surrounding areas make final preparations ahead of the storm’s expected landfall.

 

International News

DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home

Published

on

Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.

Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.

SEE MORE: Trump Sparks Outrage With Shock Proposal to Rename New Mexico

The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”

The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”

 

 

Details later……….

Continue Reading

International News

Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital

Published

on

Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.

The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.

SEE ALSO: NAFDAC Warns Nigerians As Fake Cowbell Milk Floods Market

According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.

Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.

Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.

Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.

For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.

Continue Reading

International News

‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal

Published

on

US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.

“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.

SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock

According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.

“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.

“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”

Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”

“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.

“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.

Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x