Did Typhoon Danas Strike Taiwan Leaving Casualties?

Taipei, July 7 (NationPress) Typhoon Danas made landfall in Taiwan before moving out to sea early on Monday, resulting in two fatalities and 334 injuries, as reported by local media.

The storm caused power outages affecting over 660,000 households and led to class and work cancellations across more than 10 counties and cities, according to local authorities.

As of Monday noon, Danas was located approximately 130 km north of Taipei, with maximum wind speeds near its center reaching around 90 km/h, as reported by the local meteorological agency. While the main island of Taiwan is outside the typhoon's storm circle, the northern coastal waters remain at risk.

Danas followed an unusual path along the densely populated west coast of the island, becoming the first typhoon to make landfall in Chiayi in the past 120 years.

By 8 a.m. Monday, the typhoon had triggered 2,270 incidents of damage, predominantly involving basic infrastructure and fallen trees in Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Yunlin, according to the local disaster response center.

The regional aviation authority reported the cancellation of 176 flights by 10 a.m., indicating that operations are expected to gradually resume in the afternoon.

Owing to the typhoon's outer circulation, regions such as Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung anticipate heavy to torrential rain on Monday. The meteorological agency has advised the public to steer clear of mountainous areas to avoid accidents, as per Xinhua.

Meanwhile, Zhejiang Province in East China raised its typhoon emergency response level to Level III at 10 a.m. on Monday as Danas approaches.

The meteorological observatory of the province confirmed that the typhoon's center made landfall along Taiwan's Chiayi City coast early Monday. After landfall, Danas is projected to continue moving northward.

At 7 a.m., its center was located over the sea, around 258 km southeast of Wenzhou, Zhejiang. It is anticipated to make landfall again along the coast between Taizhou in Zhejiang and Fuzhou in the neighboring Fujian Province, sometime between the afternoon and night of July 8.

From July 7 to 9, central and southern Zhejiang, along with adjacent coastal areas, are expected to receive a total rainfall of 60 to 90 mm due to Danas, with some areas possibly exceeding 350 mm.

Authorities in Zhejiang have urged coastal regions and departments to closely monitor the typhoon's trajectory, enhance coordination efforts, and implement precautionary measures as per the contingency plan. These measures include securing vessels, halting sea routes, and suspending construction projects.

China's national observatory has also issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Danas, anticipating strong winds and heavy rainfall.