Typhoon slams into China following its journey across Taiwan as a storm.
Typhoon Podul Wreaks Havoc in Taiwan and Southeastern China
In August 2025, Typhoon Podul, also known as Typhoon Gorio in the Philippines, made its impact felt in Taiwan and southeastern China, causing significant wind speeds, rainfall, evacuations, and damage.
Wind Speeds and Landfall
In Taiwan, wind gusts reached up to 178 km/h (111 mph) shortly before landfall in Taitung County. When Podul made its second landfall in China's Fujian Province (Zhangpu County), maximum sustained winds were about 108 km/h (67 mph).
Rainfall and Flooding
Podul produced heavy rainfall, with about 300 mm across eastern Taiwan counties such as Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung. In Guangdong, China, areas like Guangzhou saw up to 622.6 mm (24.5 inches) of rain, causing widespread flooding. Macau also experienced localized flooding with up to 110 mm of rainfall.
Impact and Evacuations
The typhoon caused power outages, downed dozens of trees, disrupted flights and public transport, and damaged agriculture by knocking fruits off trees. Over 8,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in Taiwan. In China, 75,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas in Guangdong due to flood risks.
Casualties
Taiwan reported 112 injuries associated with the typhoon and one missing person who was swept away while fishing. No confirmed fatalities were reported in the sources.
Affected Areas
Taiwan's east and south, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, Hualien, Taitung, and Pingtung, were majorly impacted. In China, southeastern provinces, especially Fujian and Guangdong, experienced heavy rain, evacuations, and damage. Macau faced significant rain and flooding but no casualties have been noted.
Further Disruptions
All domestic flights across Taiwan were cancelled, along with dozens of international journeys. Streets in the port city of Kaohsiung are littered with fallen branches. High-speed rail services on the west coast were reduced, while train services in the southeast were cancelled. Many ferry services were also suspended. Businesses and schools across the south closed.
Schools in Guangdong province have temporarily paused classes due to the approaching typhoon. Over 63,000 households were still without power. More than 31,500 soldiers were ready to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
Climate Change and Intense Weather Patterns
Scientists have linked human-driven climate change to more intense weather patterns, making destructive floods more likely. This was evident in the torrential rain in Taiwan from July 28 to August 4, which left at least five people dead, with some areas recording more rain than Taiwan's total rainfall of 2.1 metres in all of 2024.
In Beijing last month, heavy rain resulted in the death of 44 people, with the capital's rural suburbs being the hardest hit. Parts of provinces like Hunan and Jiangxi in central China will also experience heavy to torrential rain. Another eight people were killed in a landslide in nearby Hebei province due to heavy rain.
In conclusion, Typhoon Podul was a moderately strong storm that caused heavy rain, strong winds, significant evacuations, injuries, and flooding primarily in southern and eastern Taiwan and southeastern China. The highest reported wind gust was 178 km/h in Taiwan, with rainfall exceeding 600 mm in parts of Guangdong. The storm led to disruptions in transport, power outages, and agricultural damage but no confirmed deaths as of now.
International businesses were disrupted in Taiwan and southeastern China due to Typhoon Podul's flooding caused by heavy rain. In Guangzhou, China, widespread flooding from the typhoon forced schools to temporarily halt classes.
