Typhoon Podul struck Taiwan’s sparsely populated southeast coast on Wednesday, bringing winds of up to 191 kph (118 mph) and forcing widespread shutdowns across the island’s southern and eastern regions. Hundreds of domestic and international flights were cancelled as authorities braced for heavy rain and destructive gusts.
The storm made landfall in Taitung around 1 pm (0500 GMT), according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. Residents in parts of the city received urgent text alerts warning of gusts exceeding 150 kph (93 mph) and urging immediate shelter.
Nine cities and counties, including the southern hubs of Kaohsiung and Tainan, suspended work and school for the day. While Taipei experienced strong winds, the capital’s daily life and financial markets remained unaffected.
Authorities evacuated more than 5,500 people, including some whose homes were still damaged from last month’s rare west coast typhoon. That storm had brought record-breaking winds and widespread power outages.
On Wednesday, all 252 domestic flights were cancelled, alongside 129 international routes. China Airlines and EVA Air said most affected flights were from Kaohsiung, though some departures from Taoyuan International Airport were also halted.
After crossing Taiwan, Podul is forecast to move toward the island’s densely populated western coast before making landfall in China’s Fujian province later this week. Forecasters warned of up to 600 mm (24 inches) of rainfall in southern mountainous areas in the coming days.
Heavy downpours earlier this month had already saturated the ground, triggering floods and landslides that killed four people and caused widespread damage.
