Typhoon Podul has made landfall in Taiwan, disrupting flights and triggering evacuations.
As reported by Independent, the powerful typhoon hit the island country on Wednesday, August 13, forcing authorities to close schools and government offices due to heavy rainfall.
The Central Meteorological Agency said that after hitting Taitung County on the east coast shortly after noon, Typhoon Podul moved across southern Taiwan at about 36 kmph (22 mph), forecasting that the typhoon will exit to the Taiwan Strait and China by late afternoon.
Text message alerts say, “Destructive winds from typhoon expected. Take shelter ASAP,” were sent to the citizens in parts of Taitung, warning about wind above 150 kph (93 mph).
Nine cities and counties, including the southern metropolises of Kaohsiung and Tainan, suspended school and offices, while the government said that more than 5,500 people were evacuated ahead of the typhoon.
Furthermore, two main international airlines in Taiwan, China Airlines and EVA Air, reported disruption and cancelled flights on routes out of Kaohsiung and Taoyuan airports.
As per reports, 252 domestic and 129 international flights were cancelled in Taiwan due to the typhoon.
The Central Weather Administration has predicted around 600 mm (24 inches) of rain in southern mountainous areas in the coming days.
It is also expected that the typhoon will hit the densely populated western coast before moving to the southern Chinese province of Fujian later this week.
