Two people have been confirmed dead from Typhoon Krathon which slammed into southern Taiwan's port city of Kaohsiung at around 12:40 Thursday, packing maximum sustained winds of 126 km per hour, according to the local meteorological agency.
Two people remain missing and 123 others were injured in the bad weather brought by the typhoon.
The typhoon triggered seven landslides and mud flows across Taiwan, shut down 14 highway sections, and forced the cancellation of most trains and 211 flights at the Taoyuan International Airport.
It also dumped heavy rains on most of the island, with Pingtung County, Taitung County and parts of the New Taipei City bearing the brunt of the downpours.
Fierce winds and torrential rains knocked out power supply for 210,000 households across the island. By 13:00, 84,000 homes were still without electricity, according to the local power companies.
In Kaohsiung's Cijin District, Typhoon Krathon caused power outages, disrupted cell phone services, and left a messy trail of destruction, with trees uprooted and broken tree branches strewn across the rain-soaked ground.
The typhoon is tracking northeast at a speed of 5 to 10 km per hour with weakening intensity. Gusty winds have been forecast for the coastal areas in the east of the mainland from 08:00 Thursday to 08:00 Friday, according to the National Meteorological Center.
Typhoon Krathon kills 2, injures 123 in Taiwan
Yalu River estuary in northeast China's Liaoning Province is a key biodiversity conservation area in China providing habitats for migratory birds and dozens of endangered species.
Situated at the northern edge of the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, the Yalu River estuary in Dandong, Liaoning Province is a crucial stopover site for birds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway which spans more than 20 countries and regions from the Arctic to Southeast Asia and Australasia.
Staff at the Dandong Yalu River Estuary National Nature Reserve are conducting research on the quantity, species, and spatial distribution of migratory waterbirds as they arrive here during their autumn migration.
"By doing these surveys we can understand the waterbirds' migration patterns, food chains and food distribution. We can also track these birds via satellite to monitor their migration routes and timings within the migratory area," said Ma Li from the nature reserve.
Ma added that the reserve has conducted surveys on northbound waterbirds for 26 consecutive years. The number of migratory birds being surveyed can reach 60,000 to 80,000 during the autumn migration.
As well as being a stopover site for migratory birds, Yalu River estuary also contributes to biodiversity conservation by providing vital habitats for endangered species within the region.
Preserving the typical coastal wetland landscape of East Asia, the Dandong Yalu River Estuary National Nature Reserve accommodates most species of the Liaodong Peninsula in northeast China, thus maintaining the richness and diversity of wildlife.
The nature reserve is home to 453 species of plants, 324 species of birds, more than 80 species of nektons, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
"In terms of global biodiversity conservation, the Yalu River Estuary Wetland in Dandong supports the survival and development of nearly 20 rare and endangered species in the world. Therefore, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this location holds significant importance," said Lei Guangchun, a professor from Beijing Forestry University.
The Yalu River estuary is one of the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (Phase II) which was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List on July 26.
Migratory bird habitat in China’s Liaoning bears significance for biodiversity conservation
