Super Typhoon Kong Ray is approaching Taiwan and could take over “almost the entire” island

Taiwan authorities are warning residents on the east coast to be prepared for the impacts of Super Typhoon Kong-ray, which has rapidly intensified as it approaches the island after making landfall in the Philippines.

Kong Ray, moving northwest over the Philippine Sea, reached super typhoon strength on Wednesday, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). With winds of 240 kilometers per hour (150 mph), it is equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane.

The powerful typhoon is forecast to make landfall early Thursday morning (Wednesday evening ET) in Taitung, a sparsely populated county on Taiwan’s mountainous southeast coast.

“As the typhoon continues to move northwest, almost all of Taiwan will be covered in a storm circle tonight,” meteorologist Chu Mei-lin of the island’s meteorological agency said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a marine warning on Tuesday as the storm approaches. It also issued a warning Wednesday for two southern counties expected to be hit by the storm’s outer bands.

Forecasts show the powerful storm may weaken slightly before making direct landfall on the southeast coast, but it is still expected to produce intense downpours that will bring flash flooding, storm surge and the risk of landslides.

“We urge everyone to prepare accordingly,” Chu warned.

Chu added that waves can reach eight meters in height when the typhoon makes landfall. Taiwan, including Taipei, will experience heavy rain on Thursday.

Taiwan’s military has put about 36,000 soldiers on standby to assist with rescue and humanitarian efforts, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.

More than 6,000 first responders have also been placed on standby to assist in response to the typhoon, according to the Central Emergency Operations Center. Most flights and ferries through Taiwan are still operating as normal, the center said on Wednesday.

Taiwan generally has a successful track record of responding to major typhoons, although remote villages in more mountainous regions can be particularly vulnerable to landslides. Earlier this month Typhoon Kraton Four people were killed as particularly heavy rains hit the south of the island.

Taiwan’s two remote islands, Green Island and Orchid Island, suspended work and classes on Wednesday, according to the county government.

In recent days, northern parts of the main Philippine island of Luzon have come under attack from outside factions of Kong Ray, known as Leon, as authorities ordered evacuations and warned of their consequences after already seeing destruction from Tropical Storm Tramiknown as Christina, which killed at least 130 people.

As of Wednesday morning, Kong-rei continued to circle the north of the island, moving towards Taiwan.

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