TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As Typhoon Krathon is forecasted to make landfall in southern Taiwan on Tuesday (Oct. 1), 521 people were evacuated from mountainous areas in Kaohsiung on Monday (Sept. 30).

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) inspected typhoon disaster prevention preparations on Monday, according to CNA. Local districts were alerted to activate preventive evacuation mechanisms following landslide warnings for Kaohsiung’s Taoyuan, Maolin, Namasia, and Liugui districts.

According to the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Typhoon Krathon is approaching Taiwan from the south without obstruction from the Central Mountain Range. The storm is expected to severely impact Kaohsiung from Oct. 1-3, with strong winds and heavy rainfall in the mountainous regions, where rainfall could reach 800 mm.

Kaohsiung’s Water Conservancy Bureau reported that flood control preparations have been completed for 91 pumping stations, 13 vehicle underpasses, 112 pre-arranged mobile pumping units, and 25 detention ponds. By raising the outflow gate of Jinshi Lake, its flood detention capacity is expected to increase from 119,700 to 220,000 tons.

Kaohsiung City Deputy Mayor Charles Lin (林欽榮) confirmed that 521 people have been evacuated from the city’s mountainous regions. The Eighth Army Corps assisted in evacuating 45 individuals and 10 vehicles on Monday.

Taoyuan Junior High School, located in the landslide warning zone, reported that 77 teachers and students had been evacuated by 9 a.m., and classes were moved online as a precaution.

Additionally, residents can collect sandbags from their nearest district office, with 23,000 sandbags prepared and distributed across Kaohsiung, Lin said.