Heavy rains and high winds lashed Taiwan on Thursday as the largest storm to hit the island in nearly three decades made landfall along its southeast coast, killing at least one person and injuring dozens.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Typhoon Kong-rey had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the website Zoom Earth. The storm has weakened slightly since Tuesday night, when

The storm prompted closures and raised the risk of landslides as it approached the island. It was expected to hit as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane.

Authorities in Taiwan are warning residents along its eastern coast to brace for the impacts Super Typhoon Kong-rey, which has rapidly intensified as it barrels towards the island after bashing the Philippines.

A ride-hailing driver has recounted how he had narrow escape when a huge tree smashed onto his vehicle as Typhoon Kong-rey swept over Taiwan, also sweeping away metal roofs and sending landslides onto roads and into houses.

Classes and offices have been closed in Taiwan as a powerful typhoon approaches, bringing high winds and floods to much of the island's east coast.

Taiwan cleared up and offices and financial markets re-opened on Friday after the powerful Typhoon Kong-rey swept through the island causing two deaths and snarling transport, as the remnant of the storm brushed the Chinese coast.

This picture provided by the Hualien County Fire Department via Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on October 31, 2024 shows a firefighter beside a roof blown away due to strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Kong-rey in Hualien County.

Fierce winds and torrential rain lashed Taiwan on Thursday as Super Typhoon Kong-rey neared, forcing thousands to flee from one of the most powerful storms to threaten the island in years.

After Super Typhoon Kong-rey forced thousands to flee their homes in the Philippines, a video of high winds lashing trees circulated online in posts falsely claiming it showed the storm. The clip – viewed millions of times on Facebook,