Storm Danas claims lives of two and leaves hundreds wounded in Taiwan
**Headline:** Typhoon Danas Brings Devastation to Southern Taiwan, Leaves Over 3,000 Homes Without Power and Causes Two Fatalities
In the heart of the weekend, Typhoon Danas made landfall in southwestern Taiwan, bringing with it strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating consequences. The cyclone, which was the first typhoon on record to hit Chiayi County, moved north along Taiwan's western coast and caused significant disruption and damage.
The typhoon's intense rainfall led to flash floods, landslides, and road blockages, particularly in the southern port of Kaohsiung and the mountainous regions. Firefighters reported that the majority of evacuations were conducted in these mountainous areas, with around 3,500 people being evacuated from their homes as a result of the typhoon.
The heavy rainfall resulted in more than 500 millimeters of rain being dumped in southern Taiwan over the weekend. This deluge caused widespread power outages, with an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 households losing power due to the typhoon. Unfortunately, these power outages claimed two lives—a 60-year-old man whose respirator stopped working, and a 69-year-old man who was killed when a tree fell on him while he was driving.
The typhoon also caused disruptions to transportation services, with 33 international flights being cancelled on Monday due to the storm. In addition, the high-speed rail services were suspended.
The Central Weather Bureau reported gusts of up to 222 kilometers per hour during the typhoon, with winds up to 137 km/h (85 mph) at landfall. The heavy rainfall and strong winds caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Despite the severity of the typhoon, there were no other distinct natural disasters reported in Taiwan specifically during or immediately after Danas. The flooding and landslides were consequences of Typhoon Danas' intense rainfall, rather than separate natural disasters occurring independently during this period.
By Monday morning, the typhoon had moved away from Taiwan, leaving behind a trail of heavy damage and casualties. Over 491 people were treated for injuries due to the typhoon, and the clean-up and recovery efforts are now underway. The people of Taiwan continue to face the challenges posed by the aftermath of Typhoon Danas, but they remain resilient in the face of adversity.
[1] https://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7e/C/News_Content.aspx?n=A9577D7E1C86465DA29644487865756C [2] https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4447264 [3] https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/12/asia/typhoon-danas-taiwan-intl-hnk/index.html [4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/12/typhoon-danas-hits-taiwan-killing-at-least-3-people-disrupting-flights
- The intense rainfall brought by Typhoon Danas resulted in disruptions in environmental-science research due to flooding and road blockages in several regions, particularly in the southern port of Kaohsiung.
- Scientists are closely monitoring the impact of Typhoon Danas on the local weather patterns and the environment, as the heavy rainfall raises concerns about potential environmental-science issues such as water pollution and siltation in reservoirs.
