KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Taiwan shut down on Wednesday, grounding hundreds of flights and closing schools, offices and financial markets ahead of the arrival of a weakening Typhoon Krathon, with one person reported dead and torrential rain lashing the island’s south. Although the typhoon has weakened, the threats from a storm surge, strong winds and rain remain as it slowly makes its way toward Taiwan’s coast, weather forecasters said. The typhoon would lose power once it hit land, said Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, but would still bring intense winds and rain. Once it hits land, the typhoon could be downgraded into a tropical depression and dissipate, which has happened only once before in Taiwan, in 2001, forecasters said. In Taipei, some malls and shops remained open, with rain only expected later in the day.

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Persons: Thelma, Chen Chi, ”, Tommy Wang, Gaemi, Yu Ren, Chou Yi, Power, Chou Organizations: Getty, Central Weather Administration, Apple, Nvidia Locations: KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s, Hualien, Taipei, Taoyuan, AFP, Tainan, Siaogang