Mass evacuation initiated in Taiwan as Typhoon Podul strikes the coastline, affecting thousands of residents.
Typhoon Podul Passes Through Taiwan, Leaves Localized Impacts
Typhoon Podul, the 11th tropical storm of the year, made landfall in Taiwan on August 12, 2025, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the eastern and southern counties. The storm passed through the southern third of the island, affecting areas such as Taitung, Pingtung, Hualien, and Penghu.
As the typhoon moved across Taiwan at approximately 36 kilometers per hour, schools and government offices were closed, and nearly 400 domestic and international flights were delayed or cancelled. Authorities evacuated more than 5,500 people in advance of the typhoon's arrival.
Despite the storm's strength, no major damage was reported at the time of passage. However, localized impacts were felt, including flooding, crop damage, power outages, and one reported missing person. The storm dropped about 300 millimeters of rain in places, damaging fruit crops just weeks before harvest, causing setbacks to agricultural recovery efforts. Power outages and some structural damage, such as roofs blown off, were reported especially in southeastern Taiwan.
The areas affected by the typhoon are well south of Taiwan's capital Taipei, the main international airport, and the high-tech industrial base. As a result, the region experienced disruption, especially in rural and agricultural areas, but no catastrophic damage or casualties were noted.
Taiwan's Central Weather Administration stated that it remains unclear how severe the storm would be. Podul, which is spread across an area of 120 kilometers, is expected to broaden while losing strength as it moves westward across the Taiwan Strait. Since then, Podul moved out over the Taiwan Strait and toward China.
Cleanup and recovery from the typhoon's effects, especially on agriculture and rural utilities, are likely still underway after the storm's passage nearly two weeks ago. The typhoon is a reminder of the annual threat of typhoons in Taiwan, which often cause flooding, damage to cash crops, and landslides.
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Environmental scientists are analyzing the impacts of Typhoon Podul on Taiwan's agriculture, as the storm dropped about 300 millimeters of rain and caused localized flooding, damaging fruit crops just weeks before harvest. Climate-change researchers are also monitoring the storm as it could be a sign of intensifying typhoons due to global warming, a concern in the field of environmental-science.
