Taiwan copes with super typhoon

Taipei [Taiwan], October 31: Taiwanese authorities issued a warning yesterday as super typhoon Kong-rey is expected to make landfall along the island's east coast today (October 31), according to Reuters.
With wind gusts of nearly 300 km/h, Kong-rey has strengthened into a super typhoon and is expected to strengthen further before making landfall in Taitung in Taiwan, according to the US Navy 's Typhoon Warning Center .
Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-teh urged people to stay away from mountains and coastlines. In addition, Taiwan's Defense Ministry has put about 36,000 soldiers on standby to respond to the storm. Before making landfall in Taiwan, Typhoon Kong-rey continued to bring heavy rain and strong winds to several provinces on the Philippine island of Luzon yesterday, forcing thousands to evacuate, according to GMA News. In a report released this morning, Philippine authorities said the death toll from the combined impact of Typhoon Kong-rey and Typhoon Tra Mi had risen to 145 and 37 people were still missing.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper