China Taiwan Storm: Podul Unleashes Flooding, Deaths Rise Across Region
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Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Podul lashed parts of southeastern China on Thursday, making landfall after causing significant disruption and leaving one person missing on the self-governing island of Taiwan. The storm’s impact added to a challenging week for the region, which is grappling with separate, deadly flood disasters in other parts of mainland China.
Podul’s Path and Immediate Impact
Podul, downgraded from typhoon strength, made landfall shortly after midnight in Fujian province, a key area in southeastern China. Ahead of the storm’s arrival, approximately 15,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable seaside areas in southern China, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Initial reports indicated no immediate casualties or widespread damage from the storm’s direct impact in mainland China.
The storm’s approach prompted significant closures and advisories across major urban centers. In Hong Kong and Macao, schools were canceled, and some streets in Macao were closed due to flooding. Hong Kong also suspended court proceedings, and the Hong Kong Observatory, the city’s meteorological agency, issued a stern advisory for residents to avoid the shore.
Taiwan Faces Cleanup After Direct Hit
Southern Taiwan was engaged in extensive cleanup efforts following Podul’s initial landfall on its east coast on Wednesday as a full-fledged typhoon. The storm traversed the island before moving out into the Taiwan Strait approximately five hours later.
The typhoon left a trail of immediate concern. One person remained missing after being swept out to sea, and roughly 100 people sustained injuries. About 8,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters. Electric company workers moved swiftly to restore power, aiming to mitigate complaints that had arisen over slow response times following earlier storms.
Broader Disasters Compound Regional Crisis
Beyond Tropical Storm Podul, other severe weather events have impacted China, adding to the human toll. In Yunnan province in southwestern China, state media reported that one person was dead and three others missing after heavy rains triggered a devastating landslide on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the capital city of Beijing continues to recover from a separate, severe flood. On Wednesday, the body of a village leader who had gone missing more than two weeks prior was found. Her discovery tragically pushed the death toll from that specific disaster to at least 45 people. The 51-year-old official had died while attempting to evacuate two elderly residents, according to a statement released on Thursday by the Beijing Communist Party committee. While the statement did not elaborate on the specific circumstances of her death, it did confirm that both she and her husband, who also perished in the flood, received posthumous recognition as “Outstanding Communist Party Member of Beijing.”
