Typhoon Podul Batters Taitung, Cancels Hundreds of Flights

(TAITUNG, TAIWAN) Typhoon Podul slammed into Taitung on Wednesday with gusts up to 191 km/h, forcing mass evacuations, shutting public offices across southern municipalities, and triggering the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Officials said more than 8,000 people were moved from at‑risk areas as the storm crossed southern Taiwan in about three hours, exiting near Tainan around 4 p.m. local time and heading toward China’s Fujian coast. The Central Emergency Operation Center recorded 33 injuries—mostly in Taitung and Kaohsiung—and reported one person missing, an angler swept out to sea in Chiayi County.

Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued land and sea warnings before Typhoon Podul hit Taitung and expects those alerts to remain in place until early Thursday, with continued danger from flooding and landslides in mountain and coastal communities. The agency warned that rainfall could total up to 600 mm in parts of Hualien, Taitung, the Hengchun Peninsula, and mountainous areas of Kaohsiung and Pingtung over the next two to three days. Sustained winds reached 155 km/h, with the strongest gusts recorded at 191 km/h.

Flight and safety impacts

Air travel was heavily disrupted. Authorities reported:
– 252 domestic flights canceled
– 129 international flights canceled

Airport-specific impacts:
– Kaohsiung International Airport: 152 flights canceled or delayed
– Taoyuan International Airport: 91 cancellations by early afternoon

Travelers were urged to check real-time updates before heading to airports as Typhoon Podul drove shifting schedules and rolling ground stops.

Officials ordered closures across nine municipalities, including Kaohsiung and Tainan, to keep people off flooded roads and allow emergency crews room to work. The Ministry of National Defense deployed troops to assist with evacuations and opened emergency shelters. Residents received text alerts instructing them to seek safe cover and stay away from rivers, slopes, and coastal areas.

Evacuations, injuries, and local response

The evacuation effort grew through the day:
1. Early counts: 5,500 people moved to safety
2. Later tallies: topped 8,000 as local governments cleared low-lying villages and areas near unstable hillsides

Troops and local officials:
– Ferried the elderly and people with disabilities to shelters
– Set up hot meals and basic medical stations in Taitung and Pingtung townships
– Deployed emergency crews to clear roads and assist residents

Injuries and damage:
– 33 injuries reported—cuts, broken bones from flying debris, and accidents on wet roads
– One person missing (angler in Chiayi County)
– Power lines down across parts of the south and east
– Fresh landslide risk as saturated soils loosened by days of heavy rain
– Rural counties faced prolonged power outages and blocked roads, slowing recovery

Farmers braced for further crop losses. Repeated soaking and gale-force winds can:
– Knock fruit from trees
– Break branches
– Waterlog fields and raise disease risk

Rural communities, often farther from major hospitals and with fewer backup power options, typically wait longer for full restoration of electricity and road access.

Response, context, and meteorological outlook

CWA forecaster Liu Yu-chi explained that Podul’s southward track helped it maintain speed and avoid heavy weakening that often occurs over Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range. That path:
– Spared Taipei and much of the northern industrial belt from direct wind damage
– Concentrated the worst impacts across Taitung, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, and parts of Tainan

Meteorologists noted the storm’s quick crossing—roughly three hours—limited inland time but still left downed trees, damaged roofs, and flooded roads.

Taiwan’s improved early warning systems and disaster response in recent years enabled faster evacuations, coordinated school and office closures, and better local-military cooperation. On Wednesday:
– Taitung managed shelter operations
– Kaohsiung and Tainan handled road closures and water pumping
– The Ministry of National Defense managed logistics and moved supplies to shelters

Transportation and recovery:
– Early flight cancellations and rerouting reduced passenger risk and helped airports recover once winds eased
– Crews must inspect runways, terminals, and power lines before full service resumes
– VisaVerge.com reports travelers are being told to check real-time flight information; rebooking may take time as seats open across limited services

Authorities warned hazards remain. With the ground already saturated, trailing heavy bands from Podul can trigger:
– Flash floods
– New landslides, especially in mountain valleys and along coastal bluffs

The CWA expects rain and wind advisories to continue into early Thursday. Local governments asked residents not to return to evacuated homes until officials give the all-clear.

Safety guidance and immediate actions

For people in the storm zone, recommended steps:
– Follow local orders for evacuation and shelter use
– Stay away from rivers, slopes, and shorelines during high winds and heavy rain
– Check airline notices before traveling to airports; keep booking records handy
– Report injuries or missing persons to emergency services
– Farmers should document crop damage and contact county offices for relief guidance

Important: Wait for official safety inspections before returning to homes or fields. Hidden washouts, downed lines buried under debris, and unstable slopes pose serious risks.

Regional effects and next steps

Regional concerns:
– Forecasts show Podul pushing toward Fujian, China
– Chinese officials recalled fishing boats and moved an estimated 15,000 residents to safer ground in Fujian and Guangdong
– Cross-strait shipping and short-haul flights may remain unsettled until Podul weakens over land

Local recovery actions in Taiwan:
– Clearing roads and restoring power where winds have eased
– Checking on older neighbors and families with young children in rural townships
– Assessing damage to bridges, irrigation systems, and farm roads to prioritize repairs

Forecasters stressed that even a fast-moving system leaves lingering hazards. Crews urged patience and asked residents to wait for safety inspections before restarting normal routines.

For official weather bulletins, advisories, and storm tracks, consult the Central Weather Administration’s official portal at https://www.cwa.gov.tw/ for the latest government information.

As the storm’s center moves away, Taiwan’s focus shifts from emergency response to practical recovery: getting children back to school, restoring full airline schedules, and helping farmers salvage what they can. The coming days will show how quickly southern and eastern counties can reopen roads, power lines, and local clinics after Typhoon Podul’s strike.