A powerful typhoon approaching Taiwan has killed one person and injured 171 others, prompting evacuations, flight cancellations and emergency preparations across the island, according to local authorities.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the storm, known as Kong-rey, had developed into a super typhoon and was among the most powerful storms in the Pacific this year, with winds reaching 191 kilometres per hour.

The government said 2,639 people had been moved from mountainous areas to safer locations. More than 77,000 households also experienced power outages, although electricity had been restored in most affected areas, according to state-owned utility Taipower.

Liu Pei-teng, a weather forecaster, told Reuters that a direct impact on Taiwan could not be ruled out if the storm stalled near the island or changed direction.

Authorities issued mobile phone warnings to residents of coastal towns, urging them to move to safe locations amid forecasts of winds exceeding 150 kilometres per hour.

In northeastern Yilan County, officials distributed sandbags as strong winds and heavy rain intensified. Amphibious vehicles and rescue boats were also placed on standby.

In the port city of Keelung, boat owners worked to secure their vessels ahead of the storm. Liu Yu-en, an 18-year-old construction worker, said the situation had not yet become particularly serious.

Taiwan’s weather agency said the storm’s circulation extended about 320 kilometres, while meteorologists warned that its effects could persist for around two days.

The approaching typhoon disrupted daily life across the island, with several markets remaining closed on Friday. However, schools and offices on Taiwan-administered Kinmen Islands were scheduled to operate as usual.

The transport ministry said all 262 domestic flights and 717 international flights scheduled for Friday had been cancelled. Rail services running from northern to southern Taiwan continued to operate normally.

In the capital, Taipei, intermittent heavy rain persisted, while public services, including the metro, continued operating with limited services.

Forecasts indicated that Kong-rey would first pass near Yonaguni, an island in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, west of Taiwan.