Typhoon Danas kills two and injures hundreds in Taiwan

In early July 2025, Typhoon Danas struck Taiwan with significant force, particularly affecting the densely populated west coast. The typhoon brought heavy rain and strong winds that resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life. Rainfall levels exceeded 60 centimeters in some regions, causing severe flooding and landslides in areas like Tainan and Kaohsiung. Many residents were forced to evacuate, and nearly 580,000 households experienced power outages due to downed electric poles. As the storm continued its path towards mainland China, over 600 individuals required medical treatment due to injuries sustained during the onslaught. The storm's initial intensity reached maximum sustained winds of 144 kilometers per hour, severely affecting infrastructure in Taiwan. Schools, offices, and travel services were disrupted as the island braced for the impact, reflecting the region's vulnerability to such weather events. Authorities in southern provinces of China, particularly in Zhejiang, prepared for Danas's arrival by canceling ferries and evacuating offshore facilities to safeguard lives. The heavy rains were expected to cause flash floods, with forecasts predicting an additional 100 to 250 millimeters of rain across a broad area stretching from Fuzhou to Hangzhou. With past experiences of deadly landslides in mountainous regions, the measures aimed to mitigate potential hazards citizens could face when the storm made impact. Scientists have noted that storms like Danas are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, raising concerns for future weather patterns in East Asia. This incident not only highlights the immediate dangers posed by Typhoon Danas but also serves as a call to action for improved disaster preparedness in the region to prevent similar tragedies in the future.