Windhoek: Typhoon Danas made landfall in Taiwan late Sunday night and exited to sea early Monday morning, leaving two people dead and 334 injured. The storm caused significant disruptions across the island, impacting daily life and infrastructure.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Danas has resulted in power outages affecting over 660,000 households. The typhoon led to the suspension of classes and work in more than 10 counties and cities. Local authorities reported that Danas was centered about 130 km north of Taipei by Monday noon, with maximum wind speeds near the center reaching approximately 90 km per hour. Although the main island of Taiwan is no longer within the typhoon's storm circle, northern coastal waters remain under threat.
Danas followed an unusual path, brushing the island's densely populated west coast and becoming the first typhoon to make landfall in Chiayi in 120 years. By 8 a.m. Monday, the storm had caused 2,270 incidents of damage, primarily affecting basic infrastructure and resulting in fallen trees across Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Yunlin, as reported by the local disaster response center.
The region's aviation authority announced the cancellation of 176 flights as of 10 a.m. Monday, although flights are expected to resume gradually in the afternoon. The outer circulation of the typhoon is anticipated to bring heavy to torrential rain to Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung on Monday. The meteorological authority has advised the public to avoid mountainous areas to prevent accidents.