Karmactive StaffThe massive windows of a Chiayi apartment building rattled violently as Typhoon Danas made landfall on Taiwan’s western coast. Inside, families huddled in darkness after losing power, listening to winds tear through their neighborhood while emergency workers evacuated residents to nearby shelters.
Typhoon Danas crashed into Taiwan’s west coast at 23:40 TST on July 6, 2025 – marking the first typhoon to strike Taiwan’s central western coast since Typhoon Wayne in 1986 and the first recorded typhoon landfall in Chiayi County. The storm’s rare western approach brought destructive winds, massive rainfall, and disrupted life for millions across Taiwan before continuing toward China’s Zhejiang province.
A Rapidly Strengthening Storm
Danas formed on July 3 east of Luzon as a tropical depression before rapidly intensifying into a typhoon by July 6. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) measured peak winds at 185 km/h (100 knots) while the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) recorded 120 km/h sustained winds and a central pressure of 970 hPa.
The typhoon’s first landfall occurred in Budai township, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Most typhoons approach Taiwan from the east, making Danas’s track particularly concerning for communities with less typhoon-hardened infrastructure.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration expanded land warnings from 6 to 20 municipalities approximately 18 hours before landfall, giving residents crucial preparation time.
Widespread Power Outages and Casualties
The storm knocked out electricity to approximately 580,000 households, primarily in western Taiwan, with 150,000 outages in Chiayi County alone. As of July 9, Taipower reported restoring service to approximately 90% of affected households, but around 50,000 homes in Tainan remained without power.
“Our crews are working continuously to restore power to affected households,” stated a Taipower representative in their July 9 update.
The human toll has been significant – authorities confirmed 2 deaths and between 300-630 injuries across Taiwan. According to verified reports, a 60-year-old man died due to a power outage disabling his respirator, and a 69-year-old man was killed by a falling tree.
The Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) opened 33 shelters on July 5, with shelter usage peaking at 512 evacuees on July 7. Eight shelters remained active through July 9, with the largest being Tainan High School gymnasium housing 167 displaced people.
Billion-NT$ Agricultural Devastation
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture confirmed agricultural losses of NT$1.05 billion (approximately US$36.2 million) across 9,800+ hectares – about 1.5% of Taiwan’s arable land.
According to the Council of Agriculture’s July 9 bulletin, banana farmers lost NT$130.22 million with 1,098 hectares damaged at 35% crop loss. Pomelo growers face NT$118.4 million in damages, while longan farmers reported NT$34.4 million in losses.
Beyond farms, structural damage to homes, roads, and bridges in Chiayi, Tainan, and Yunlin counties is preliminarily estimated at NT$2.07 billion (US$71 million), according to statements from Taiwan’s National Development Council.
Record-Breaking Rainfall and Flooding
Danas dumped extraordinary amounts of rain – up to 600mm in Pingtung County – triggering landslides and river overflows. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) recorded a 1.1-meter storm surge potential, creating moderate coastal inundation and erosion along western Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Water Resources Agency (WRA) confirmed the failure of 7 key pumping stations due to overwhelmed capacity, with multiple breached levees in Chiayi and Yunlin counties and blocked urban drainage in Tainan leading to urban flooding in 14 municipalities.
In the Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 13,006 individuals (3,773 families) affected in Central Luzon by the Danas-enhanced southwest monsoon (locally called “Habagat”), with river gauges exceeding warning levels in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.
Regional Monsoon Amplification
While Danas never made landfall in Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department reported that the typhoon intensified the southwest monsoon, bringing heavy rains to 38 provinces and increasing flash-flood risk through July 12.
“The monsoon enhancement effect extends the typhoon’s impact far beyond its direct path,” stated the Thai Meteorological Department in their official bulletin.
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Energy Infrastructure Resilience
Taiwan’s renewable energy infrastructure faced its first major typhoon test. Taipower and the Energy Administration confirmed that 356 operational offshore wind turbines, with approximately 50 more in testing phase, remained undamaged, demonstrating the resilience of these structures against typhoon-force winds.
The storm did affect some floating solar test platforms off southern Taiwan, though no panels were fitted at the time, resulting in minimal marine ecosystem impact according to Taipower’s July 9 update.
Environmental Impact and Rescue Operations
Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Agency flagged early signs of river nitrate spikes and marine debris accumulation, with notable soil erosion and sediment run-off observed in Pingtung and Kaohsiung.
The Coast Guard and National Fire Agency deployed 52 swift water rescue teams that rescued 191 individuals from flood-prone lowlands, according to official reports.
Insurance Claims and Recovery Funding
According to the Taiwan Insurance Institute data shared via ReliefWeb, insurance claims exceeded NT$820 million in residential and agricultural insurance claims by July 10. Many rural households lack disaster insurance, amplifying the recovery burden.
Taipei has authorized emergency relief funds while local authorities continue clearing debris, restoring power, and repairing damaged infrastructure.
Mental Health and Public Health Response
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare reported deploying mobile medical teams to Tainan and Chiayi counties to address both physical and psychological needs of affected residents.
“After disasters, mental health support is a critical component of our emergency response,” stated the Ministry of Health and Welfare in their bulletin.
Climate Context
The National Taiwan University Climate Research Center identified Danas as a candidate for attribution studies due to its rare track and record-breaking precipitation. While no final attribution has been made, preliminary models suggest a 5-15% increase in rainfall intensity linked to ocean temperature anomalies.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report notes a poleward shift in cyclone intensity and increased rainfall extremes in the Western Pacific since 1951.
Early Warning System Performance
Taiwan’s expanded early warning system gave communities crucial lead time. The Central Weather Administration’s decision to expand land warnings to 20 municipalities approximately 18 hours before impact allowed for pre-emptive evacuations and infrastructure shutdowns.
This aligns with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRR) Global Assessment Report 2025, which emphasizes investments in early warning systems and resilient infrastructure.
Recovery Efforts Continue
Power restoration, relief fund distribution, and damage assessments continued as of July 10. Western Taiwan experienced rare landfall impacts, with infrastructure, agriculture, and public health services undergoing significant strain. Government response included expanded early warnings, shelter deployments, and energy grid resilience testing. Observations from multiple regions noted extreme rainfall and record flooding events worldwide linked to the storm system.
Resources for typhoon preparation and recovery assistance can be found at Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center website. Real-time typhoon tracking is available through the Central Weather Administration’s official mobile app.
