Karaoke and Kong-rey: Taiwan sings through biggest typhoon in decades

A ‘typhoon day’ has come to mean one thing for many – a chance to indulge their favourite pastime

The winds of typhoon Kong-rey howled through the streets of the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, inside a brick and glass building people similarly wailed down the corridors of a branch of the Partyworld karaoke chain.

Through the poorly soundproofed door of one room voices warbled a song by the Taiwanese rock band Mayday, and through another came the sounds of a song by Coldplay. In room 330, someone made an exasperated search through the song list – “where is Kylie? What the hell! ” – as friends screamed lyrics from a Linkin Park track.

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Typhoon Kong-rey: biggest storm in decades wreaks destruction in Taiwan

People warned to stay inside because of high risk of storm surges, flooding and landslides as typhoon crosses island

The biggest typhoon to hit Taiwan in decades has crossed over the island, leaving behind a path of destruction but minimal reported deaths or injuries.

Typhoon Kong-rey was the largest in size to make landfall in Taiwan since 1996, and also struck later in the typhoon season, which typically stretches from May to October, than any other typhoon since record-keeping began in the 1950s.

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