Typhoon Podul brings no major damage as it crosses Taiwan and heads for China

Typhoon Podul crossed southern Taiwan, prompting school and office closures as heavy rain threatened crops in the southeast. The storm, 120 km wide, hit Taitung before moving west toward China, where Fujian and Guangdong evacuated 15,000 people. One person is reported missing in Taiwan. While no major damage occurred, several southern counties faced flooding, flight disruptions, and agricultural risks, the Associated Press has reported. Podul is expected to weaken as it moves across the Taiwan Strait.