Typhoon Podul rocks Taiwan

Typhoon Podul Brings Turbulence to Taiwan’s Coastal Towns

Storm Hits Taitung County with Wind Gusts up to 178 km/h

The Central Weather Administration reported that the typhoon’s winds peaked at 178 km/h just before Podul made landfall in Taitung County. The fierce gale knocked out power for tens of thousands of households, grounded hundreds of flights and forced businesses in the southern region to shut down.

Missing and Injured Victims

• One fisherman is missing after being swept away while fishing.
• Thirty-three people were reported injured by the National Fire Agency.

Evacuations and Structural Damage

• More than 7 300 residents were evacuated from their homes.
• Trees and signposts toppled across central and southern regions still reeling from last month’s storms.

Rainfall Hotspots Expected Tonight

The CWA Administrator, Lu Kuo‑chen, warned that Kaohsiung, Tainan and Chiayi would become major rainfall hotspots. Rising rain is also anticipated in Penghu and Kinmen.

Fisherman’s Perspective

Kaohsiung fisherman Huang Wei tied down his boat hours before Podul’s landfall, remarking, “We are worried about this typhoon.” He added, “We already made general typhoon preparations yesterday, but this morning I woke up and saw news reports that the typhoon has intensified to be as strong as the last, Typhoon Krathon.” Huang reminisced that during Krathon’s October strike, two boats behind them “were not tied properly and hit my boat,” a memory that still haunts the local fishing community.

Operational Disruptions

All domestic flights across the island of 23 million people were canceled on Wednesday, along with dozens of international journeys. The CWA reported that over 134 500 households faced power outages. High‑speed rail services on the west coast were reduced, while train services in the southeast were completely canceled. Ferry services were also suspended, and businesses and schools across the southern region were closed.

Preparedness Efforts

• More than 31 500 soldiers were ready to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
• The CWA expects that mountain areas in Kaohsiung and Tainan could be hit with a cumulative 400‑600 mm of rain from Tuesday to Thursday.

Historical Context

Typhoon Danas, which struck Taiwan in early July, caused two deaths and hundreds of injuries as the storm dumped over 500 mm of rain across the south. Danas was followed by a wet spell from July 28 to August 4, with some areas recording more than Taiwan’s 2024 rainfall total of 2.1 m. The week of bad weather left five people dead, three missing, and 78 injured, a disaster official had previously reported.

Climate Change Implications

Scientists have shown that human‑driven climate change is making weather patterns more intense, increasing the likelihood of destructive floods. Global warming, largely fueled by the burning of fossil fuels, is not just about rising temperatures. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, and warmer oceans mean greater evaporation, resulting in more intense downpours and storms.