Typhoon Podul batters Eastern Taiwan, triggers transport disruptions and alerts:

Typhoon Podul, the 11th tropical cyclone of the year, struck Taiwan’s Taitung County on August 13, bringing heavy rainfall and powerful winds to the eastern cities of Hualien and Taitung. Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau has issued both sea and land warnings, with the land alerts covering 13 counties and cities, and sea warnings applicable to waters off eastern Taiwan and the Bashi Channel. The storm’s impact has caused widespread transportation disruptions and raised safety concerns across the affected regions.