TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) warned Wednesday (Aug. 13) that Typhoon Podul would unleash devastating winds and torrential rains across Taiwan's eastern and southern regions as the storm made landfall. Taiwan's leader addressed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), Taiwan's ruling party meeting, about the typhoon's escalating threat, urging immediate government preparation for extensive disaster relief operations. The presidential warning came as meteorologists tracked the powerful storm system going through the island's vulnerable coastal areas.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA, 中央氣象署) Taiwan's national weather service issued comprehensive sea and land warnings as the typhoon's destructive storm circle engulfed Taiwan throughout the morning before making eastern landfall. President Lai emphasized urgent assistance for central and southern regions already devastated by Typhoon Danas (丹娜絲颱風) and destructive southwest airflow patterns. The government aims to prioritize repairing damaged homes and safeguarding vulnerable households facing the compound threat of successive severe weather events.
President Lai also addressed Taiwan's growing health concerns amid the escalating global Chikungunya (屈公病) outbreak, highlighting 17 imported cases detected across the island. Taiwan's leader urged immediate citizen collaboration to implement comprehensive mosquito prevention measures and curb the dangerous disease's potential spread. The dual crisis of natural disaster and public health threats demanded coordinated government response and community engagement to protect the population from multiple emerging risks. ◼
