Taitung, Taiwan: Thousands of people have been evacuated, schools closed, and hundreds of flights cancelled as Typhoon Podul approaches southern Taiwan, packing wind gusts of up to 191kph (118 mph).
The mid-strength typhoon Podul, which is gaining strength, is forecast to make landfall near the southeastern city of Taitung around noon local time (04:00 GMT) on August 13, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported.
After striking the sparsely populated Taitung County, the Typhoon Podul is expected to move across Taiwan’s more densely populated western coast before entering the Taiwan Strait and heading towards China’s southern Fujian province later this week.
TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN NR. 9
Typhoon #GorioPH (PODUL)
Issued at 5:00 AM, 13 August 2025
Valid for broadcast until the next bulletin at 11:00 AM today.“GORIO” SLIGHTLY INTENSIFIES AS IT BEGINS TO APPROACH THE EASTERN COAST OF SOUTHERN TAIWAN. pic.twitter.com/4r0t5QZUSF
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) August 12, 2025
The CWA warned that southern mountainous areas could receive as much as 600mm (nearly 24 inches) of rain over the coming days. Authorities announced the suspension of work and school in nine cities and counties, including Kaohsiung and Tainan. More than 5,500 people have been evacuated in preparation, the government confirmed.
The transport ministry reported the cancellation of all domestic flights, a total of 252, along with 129 international routes. Taiwan’s two largest carriers, China Airlines and EVA Air, stated that most cancellations involved flights from Kaohsiung, with some also affecting the island’s main international airport, Taoyuan.
In Taipei, home to Taiwan’s financial markets, conditions have remained calm so far, with residents enjoying clear skies and sunshine.
Typhoon Podul follows a series of severe weather events this year. In early July, Typhoon Danas brought over 500mm (19.6 inches) of rainfall to southern Taiwan, killing two people, injuring hundreds, and causing widespread flooding and landslides.
From July 28 to August 4, torrential rain lashed the island, with some areas receiving more than a year’s worth of rainfall in a single week, leaving five dead, three missing, and 78 injured.
Taiwan experiences frequent tropical storms from July to October, but scientists warn that human-driven climate change is making these weather systems more intense and destructive.
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