Typhoon Podul intensifies as it nears Taiwan
The storm is packing sustained winds of 155 kilometers (96 miles) per hour at its center and is 'strengthening,' Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lin Ting-yi told AFP. Podul is expected to make landfall in sparsely populated Taitung County around noon (0400 GMT) before crossing the island and entering the Taiwan Strait.
More than 5,500 people have been evacuated, and mountainous areas of Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, Hualien, and Taitung could see torrential rain, the CWA said. The storm's gusts have reached 191 kilometers per hour, stronger than October's Typhoon Krathon.
Domestic flights and dozens of international journeys have been canceled, ferry services suspended, and schools and businesses across the south shut down. Over 31,500 soldiers are on standby to assist with preparations and relief efforts.
The CWA expects Kaohsiung and Pingtung to receive 400–600 millimeters (16–24 inches) of rain from Tuesday to Thursday. Taiwan, which is prone to tropical storms from July to October, has already endured severe weather this summer, including Typhoon Danas in early July and torrential rains late last month. Scientists say climate change is driving more intense storms and increasing the risk of destructive flooding.
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