Typhoon Podul Hits Taiwan Prompts 407 Flight Cancellations And 10 Major Tourist Spots Disrupted: What Travelers Need To Know

Published on August 13, 2025

On August 13, 2025, Typhoon Podul struck southern Taiwan pinch ferocious winds peaking at 191 kilometers per hr (118 miles per hour), leaving a way of destruction. The halfway of nan large wind arrived complete Taitung astatine 1 p.m. section time, barreling crossed nan southern coastline earlier exiting into nan Taiwan Strait a fewer hours later. Though Taiwan regularly faces this benignant of weather, Podul’s sustained gusts and relentless rainfall overwhelmed nan accustomed defenses. 1 person has been reported missing; astatine least 33 others sustained injuries. In consequence to nan danger, authorities cancelled classes and shuttered businesses crossed nine municipalities, including nan cardinal municipality centres of Kaohsiung and Tainan.

Impact connected Flights and Transportation

Extensive Flight Cancellations

Typhoon Podul has created sweeping recreation chaos, hammering Taiwan’s aviation sector. On Wednesday, nan state scrapped 252 home flights alongside 155 world departures. China Airlines and EVA Air logged nan bulk of nan cancellations, hitting routes from Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s confederate larboard city, hardest. A fistful of departures from Taoyuan International Airport, nan island’s cardinal world gateway, were besides scrapped arsenic nan large wind edged closer.

The fallout deed travelers hard. Airports successful respective regions shuttered aliases girded for constricted service, leaving thousands stranded. Those hoping to alert from Taiwan faced nan abrupt request to cheque for updates connected rescheduling aliases summons rebookings. Passengers booked connected onward connections done nan island’s terminals were urged to postpone their journeys, bracing for nan likelihood that much cancellations laic ahead.

Ferry Services and Rail Disruptions

In summation to nan grounded flights, ferry crossings successful Southern Taiwan came to a halt, particularly nan runs bridging nan mainland pinch Kinmen and Matsu islands. With these sailings stopped, nan messy recreation image grew moreover murkier, complicating nan already strained effort to scope different corners of Taiwan. Rail work besides felt nan effects, though nan authorities person not yet shared a complete image of nan timetable delays and cancelled segments. The paralysis of these awesome carrier arteries near locals and visitors alike staring astatine unanswered questions.

Evacuations and Shelter Efforts

As nan typhoon neared nan coast, emergency services implemented nan removal scheme without delay, focusing connected neighborhoods still recovering from past storms. More than 5,500 residents were moved from low-lying districts, galore still surviving successful impermanent lodging aft July’s grounds upwind and surge. The privilege was clear: get group retired of harm’s measurement earlier nan first gusts struck. Evacuation centers opened connected precocious ground, offering food, aesculapian aid, and a safe tile for nan night. Search-and-rescue teams meantime pre-positioned boats and trucks, fresh to statesman betterment arsenic soon arsenic nan winds fell beneath nan alert threshold.

Tourist Destinations Affected

Impact connected Tourist Attractions

Typhoon Podul besides impacted a number of well-known tourer destinations, peculiarly successful southern Taiwan. Taitung, celebrated for its spectacular coastal vistas, endured nan storm’s strongest gusts and incessant rain, starring to nan shutdown of cardinal landmarks for illustration nan Sansiiantai scenic area. Given nan heightened threat of landslides and flash flooding, emergency services closed nan sites and instituted precautionary evacuations to safeguard some visitors and residents alike.

Nearby, Kaohsiung and Tainan, famed for their historical architecture and taste sites, knowledgeable only peripheral effects. Nevertheless, a number of hotels, eateries, and retail outlets suspended operations to prioritize nan information of patrons and staff. Visitors advised to travel nan charismatic warnings and to refrain from non-critical journeys to nan storm-impacted zones.

Risk to Coastal Areas and Evacuations

Coastal regions confronted an acute flood consequence arsenic relentless downpours teamed pinch fierce gusts. Taiwan’s officials directed mandatory evacuations for some locals and tourists successful specifically marked threat areas. The roster of at-risk sites included locations still scarred by landslides and flash floods from earlier storms this season. Emergency teams directed each effort astatine protecting quality life from nan overlapping perils of rising water, destructive winds, and new landslide triggers. Visitors were powerfully advised to stay successful their existent accommodations until charismatic updates, and specifically cautioned against moving to already saturated, high-risk neighborhoods.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Although nan large wind has now moved on, crews estimate that betterment will agelong into nan week. Civil Protection teams moved quickly from appraisal to action, checking neighborhoods and clearing highways that fell to trees and mud. Emergency units fanned retired into nan hardest-hit areas, delivering food, caller water, and impermanent powerfulness wherever they could. Taiwan regularly faces typhoons, yet nan operation of Podul and nan wetter July beforehand has pushed immoderate districts past elemental repairs into nan acold magnitude of rebuilt lives and homes.

Travel Advisory and Safety Measures for Tourists

Travel Warnings for Taiwan

Travelers aiming for Taiwan should support way of continuing large wind betterment actions and travel guidance from officials. National authorities person released alerts for nan confederate locales astir affected by Typhoon Podul and urge delaying non-urgent visits until carrier and services person wholly stabilized.

Those already successful Taiwan tin entree government-run shelters, and organized assistance programs are moving quickly into nan areas deed hardest. Anyone arriving now should regularly cheque airline channels for updates connected flight schedules and verify accommodation reservations, arsenic services whitethorn request to set connected short notice.

Travel Restrictions successful China

Typhoon Podul continued its attack on nan southern coast of China, pinch Fujian and Guangdong provinces successful its sights, prompting further travel issues crossed nan region. Local meteorological services person released updated alerts, recommending that residents enactment indoors and unafraid spot up of nan storm’s landfall. Those flying to mainland China from Taiwan person been directed to verify formation itineraries and hole contingency plans, successful lawsuit further changes to nan schedule go necessary.

Conclusion

Typhoon Podul has carved a way of demolition done Taiwan, battering nan travel and tourism sector. Hundreds of flights person been scrapped, ferry operations are connected hold, and thousands person been ordered to evacuate, putting nan island’s tourism model nether terrible strain. While nan large wind now tracks toward nan Chinese mainland, much recreation headaches are anticipated.

Anyone intending to get successful Taiwan successful nan adjacent respective days should show charismatic updates and brace for much formation delays, cancellations, and constricted entree to sightseeing sites. Recovery crews are now successful nan field, but nan tourism assemblage will request weeks to retrieve from Podul’s onslaught. For everyone’s safety, authorities proceed to prioritize protecting residents and travelers.