El Niño Fuels Stronger Typhoons: scientists see ‘very, very scary findings’; governments race to prepare

For people living along the coastlines of the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan, extreme weather is a familiar reality. However, the past few months have brought an unusually severe spell of storms, with their intensity and unpredictable movements causing widespread devastation.A series of powerful weather systems, intensified by the El Niño phenomenon, has claimed dozens of lives, disrupted air travel, damaged infrastructure and destroyed crops across large parts of East Asia.According to BBC, in October, Taiwan virtually came to a standstill as an enormous storm approached its north-eastern coastline.

The typhoon, large enough to cover the island of 23 million people, generated winds of up to 295 kmph (193 mph), comparable to those of a Category 5 hurricane. Its strength was sufficient to destroy houses and generate powerful, potentially destructive waves.However, the storm did not make landfall in Taiwan, passing close to the island while bringing heavy rainfall.

Despite avoiding a direct hit, it caused significant disruption across the region.