Heavy rainfall in Taiwan claims lives of four individuals during the past week
Heavy Typhoon-Induced Rainfall Hits Taiwan, Causing Floods and Casualties
Taiwan has been hit by heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Co-May, which swept past the eastern part of the island. This torrential rain has caused flooding and resulted in several casualties and injuries.
The rainfall follows Typhoon Danas, which struck Taiwan in early July, bringing heavy moisture from the South China Sea to the island. Typhoon-induced rainfall in Taiwan is frequent and can be extremely intense, often contributing a significant portion of the island's annual rainfall.
In recent years, Taiwan has experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of such events. For instance, in July 2025, Typhoon Danas brought intense rainfall across Taiwan and neighboring regions, with accumulations reaching 80 to 150 millimeters in some areas within just one or two days.
The 2025 typhoon season saw seven typhoons forming between March and July, with one making landfall in Taiwan. This surpasses the typical yearly landfall average by about 1.3 storms, reflecting an increase in typhoon occurrences and intensity.
The heavy rains from these storms can occur over continuous weeks, as noted from late-July into August 2025, when Taiwan faced nearly a month of ongoing heavy rain originating from typhoons. The unusually heavy downpours in July were the highest since 1939, according to the Central Weather Administration.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Maolin, a mountainous district in southern Taiwan, which recorded 2.8 metres (nine feet) of rain since July 28. This rainfall surpassed Taiwan's annual rainfall of 2.1 metres last year. The storm dumped more than 500 millimetres (20 inches) of rain across the south of Taiwan over the weekend.
The heavy rain has forced several thousand people to seek shelter, and nearly 6,000 people were forced to leave their homes due to the storm. The week of bad weather left four people dead and three missing, and a total of 77 people were injured during the period.
Climate change projections suggest that future typhoons may become more intense in terms of both wind speed and rainfall, increasing Taiwan's exposure to extreme precipitation events. However, Central Weather Administration forecaster Li Ming-siang stated that the rain was not linked to climate change.
Premier Cho Jung-tai visited a flood-hit area in Tainan City on Monday, expressing his condolences to the victims and reassuring the public that the government would provide necessary aid and support. Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but the unusually heavy downpours this year have caused significant challenges.
Scientists suggest that human-driven climate change can make destructive floods more likely, but further research is needed to confirm this link. The state weather forecaster expects the rain to ease in the coming days.
- The heavy rainfall experienced in Taiwan due to typhoons like Co-May and Danas highlights the importance of accurate weather-forecasting to prepare for such intense typhoon-induced rainfall.
- Climate change projections foresee an increase in the intensity of typhoons, which might lead to more extreme precipitation events in Taiwan, thereby necessitating improved weather-forecasting systems to protect citizens.
