Which Typhoons Have Had the Most Severe Impact on Taiwan in History?
TyphoonSays·防御问答 · Regional Typhoons · 更新 at 2026-10-18
Taiwan lies on the main track of typhoons in the Northwest Pacific. With its complex terrain, it has suffered multiple severe typhoon strikes throughout history. Reviewing these typical cases is not only to remember the disasters, but also to scientifically understand the diversity of typhoon hazards, thereby enhancing current disaster resilience.
Typhoon Morakot: Beware of "Rain Bombs" and Secondary Disasters
Typhoon Morakot in 2009 was one of the deadliest wind disasters in Taiwan's modern history. Its core warning lies in this fact: the destructive power of a typhoon depends not only on wind speed levels, but more importantly on total rainfall. Although the central wind force of Morakot at landfall was not the strongest in history, influenced by the southwest monsoon and orographic lifting, it brought extreme heavy rainfall exceeding 2,000 mm in areas such as Alishan. This triggered large-scale landslides and debris flows, leading to the tragic destruction of Xiaolin Village.
This case profoundly reveals the risk of "asynchronous wind and rain." When preparing for typhoons, residents in mountainous areas, river valleys, or geologically sensitive zones should not focus solely on wind warnings. Instead, they must pay close attention to heavy rain and geological disaster risk alerts issued by meteorological departments. Even if winds weaken, persistent heavy precipitation may lag behind and trigger debris flows; therefore, early evacuation to safe areas is essential.
Typhoons Herb and Nari: Urban Waterlogging and Stalling Typhoons
Typhoon Herb in 1996 and Typhoon Nari in 2001 are typical examples representing the pressure on urban flood control. Typhoon Nari moved slowly and stalled over the Taipei Basin for an extended period, causing the water level of the Keelung River to rise sharply. This inundated multiple areas of Taipei City and even caused severe flooding in the metro system, paralyzing traffic for several days. Such "stalling" or "slow-moving" typhoons indicate that even if wind speeds do not reach super typhoon levels, a typhoon with a large structure, abundant moisture, and slow movement can easily cause severe urban waterlogging in low-lying areas.
For urban residents, the key to coping with such typhoons is to prevent water accumulation risks. It is advisable to check home drainage facilities and avoid parking vehicles in underground garages, culverts, or low-lying sections. When meteorological departments issue high-level heavy rain warnings or local governments announce school and work suspensions, please strictly adhere to disaster prevention guidelines based on official local government announcements, reduce non-essential outings, and never take risks by wading through floodwaters.
Scientific Defense: From Warning to Action
Facing typhoon threats, establishing scientific defense habits is crucial. First, accurately interpret warning signals. Typhoon warnings are typically divided into four levels: Blue, Yellow, Orange, and Red. The higher the level, the greater the hazard. However, note that a Red Warning often means severe disasters are imminent or already occurring; at this stage, emergency avoidance measures should be taken rather than mere observation.
Secondly, household emergency kits should always contain drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, spare batteries, and first-aid medicines. Before a typhoon arrives, be sure to reinforce windows and doors, and clear balcony items such as flower pots to prevent falling objects from heights. A common misconception that needs correction is: do not blindly go outside when the typhoon eye passes. Although the eye area is briefly calm, the wind direction will suddenly reverse accompanied by stronger winds afterward; momentary negligence can bring fatal danger. Keeping information channels open and following official guidelines are the most effective ways to protect life and property safety.
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This article is original educational content from TyphoonSays. Please refer to the latest official announcements from local governments for policy standards.