407 flights disrupted as Typhoon Podul hits

Manila: Typhoon Podul, which brought gusts up to 191 kp/h, caused the cancellation of a total of 407 flights in Taiwan on Wednesday (on August 13, 2025). 

This includes 252 domestic flights and around 155 international flights that were cancelled due to the typhoon's impact, which also brought heavy rain across southern Taiwan. 

The cancellations affected multiple airports, including Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport, as safety precautions amid the severe weather conditions.

Taiwan’s key carriers — China Airlines and EVA Air — halted many routes, especially from Kaohsiung and Taoyuan airports.

The fallout was especially severe at Taoyuan International Airport, which recorded 169 delays and 11 cancellations, affecting airlines from China Airlines to Cathay Pacific and Delta, as per Travel and Tour World. 

Even smaller hubs like Kinmen faced disrupted services — 9 cancellations and 2 delays for carriers such as Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air. 

Weather-induced challenges

The storm unleashed devastating rainfall — up to 600 mm in some mountainous regions — raising high risks for landslides and flooding.

Notably, travel infrastructure was severely compromised by this deluge, aggravating flight suspension effects and complicating recovery.

Precautions

Before the typhoon made landfall, authorities issued alerts and suspensions: work and classes were halted in nine cities/counties, including Kaohsiung and Tainan, and over 5,500 people were evacuated, as per Reuters.

These shutdowns were proactive measures to minimize exposure during the storm surge and intense rainfall.