Typhoon Danas creates havoc across Taiwan

Typhoon Danas, a powerful tropical cyclone, struck Taiwan’s southwestern coast late Sunday night, leaving a trail of destruction that has resulted in at least two deaths and over 500 injuries, according to official reports. Unlike most summer typhoons that typically make landfall on Taiwan’s sparsely populated and mountainous east coast, Danas followed an unusual path, scraping the island’s densely populated western edge before moving offshore early Monday.

The storm made landfall in Chiayi County with the force of a Category 1 hurricane—a classification indicating sustained wind speeds of 74–95 mph (119–153 km/h). This marks the first time a typhoon has made landfall in Chiayi since detailed typhoon records began in 1958, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA) of Taiwan.

As of Monday afternoon, nearly 300,000 households across Taiwan were without electricity, according to Taipower, the state-run electricity provider. The typhoon caused widespread power outages, prompting closures of schools and businesses in dozens of cities and counties.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te noted the storm's rare trajectory on social media, warning that “the whole of Taiwan will be affected by the wind and rain one after another.” This proved prescient, as citizens across the island experienced severe weather. In Chiayi, residents described the storm as the most intense they had ever encountered.

Lu Kuan-hao, a 34-year-old resident, shared his experience: “I have never seen such strong winds and rains at home. The wind and rain howled loudly in the middle of the night.” He added that he and his friends had stayed connected via text messages to share their concerns as the storm raged. By morning, the extent of the damage was visible—fallen trees, debris-strewn streets, and significant infrastructure damage. Lu remarked, “The recovery work may take several months or even a year.”

Among the notable landmarks affected was the Nankunshen Daitian Temple, a culturally significant site in Tainan, where the storm destroyed the massive ceremonial gate. Additionally, Tainan, which is an agricultural hub, reported over $7.2 million in agricultural losses, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Despite the extensive damage across several regions, there were no major incidents reported at key tech facilities such as the Tainan Science Park and Hsinchu Science Park. These are home to leading global technology companies, including the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)—the world’s largest producer of semiconductor chips, which are critical components used in electronic devices globally.

As Typhoon Danas weakened into a tropical storm and approached mainland China on Monday afternoon, Taiwan began to assess the full scope of the destruction. Recovery efforts are underway, but with thousands affected and damage widespread, the island faces a long road to rebuilding.

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