Severe Typhoon Podul makes landfall in Taitung County, Taiwan, leaving one missing and dozens injured
Typhoon Podul made landfall near Taitung City, southeastern Taiwan, at around 13:00 LT (05:00 UTC) on August 13, 2025, bringing strong winds and heavy rains. The storm left at least one person missing, injured at least 33 others, and prompted mass evacuation and transport shutdowns.
Satellite image of Typhoon Podul as of 23:10 UTC on August 12, 2025. Credit: Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
Typhoon Podul made landfall near Taimali Township, about 20 km (12 miles) south-south-west of Taitung City, at approximately 13:00 LT (05:00 UTC) on August 13.
The system crossed southern Taiwan in roughly three hours before entering the Taiwan Strait. Its forward movement was around 36 km/h (22 mph).
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) classified Podul as a severe typhoon, estimating maximum sustained winds near the center at 191 km/h (118 mph) before landfall. In Taitung, sustained winds reached 155 km/h (96 mph), with gusts peaking at 191 km/h (118 mph) during landfall.
Heavy rainfall, exceeding 600 mm (24 inches) in some mountainous areas, was forecast for southern and eastern Taiwan, raising the risk of landslides, flash floods, and coastal inundation.
CWA confirmed that one person remains missing and at least 33 people sustained injuries during the typhoon’s passage. Local emergency teams are continuing search and rescue operations in affected areas.
Authorities ordered the closure of schools and workplaces in nine southern and eastern cities and counties, including Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taitung.
More than 5 500 residents, including people whose homes were damaged during a July typhoon that caused record winds on Taiwan’s west coast were evacuated from flood and landslide prone areas.
Transport operations were heavily disrupted with all 252 domestic flights and 155 international flights and major impacts at Kaohsiung and Taoyuan airports.
Taiwan’s two main international carriers, China Airlines and EVA Air, concentrated cancellations on routes from Kaohsiung, with some services from Taoyuan also suspended. Ferry services to offshore islands and some rail services were halted.
As Podul entered the Taiwan Strait, forecasters expected it to weaken while expanding in size. The typhoon is forecast to reach the coast of China’s Fujian Province south of Xiamen by 21:00 UTC on August 13 (05:00 LT on August 14) as a minimal typhoon, then dissipate over the mainland within 36 hours.
Authorities in Fujian and neighboring Guangdong Province raised their emergency typhoon response from Level IV to Level III in preparation for potential heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge.
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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