Typhoon Gaemi has intensified seasonal rains in the Philippines, leading to severe flooding and landslides, and causing a freighter to sink off Taiwan’s southern coast. Causing environmental concerns, the typhoon has left a devastating trail, with two ships sinking, one of which was carrying millions of litres of oil. The disaster has claimed 25 lives and left hundreds injured as it swept through Taiwan and the Philippines.
Taiwan and Philippines hit hard
In Taiwan, Typhoon Gaemi struck overnight with gusts reaching up to 141 mph (227 kph), making it the strongest typhoon to hit the island in eight years. The storm has weakened but continues to bring heavy rainfall. Most of the fatalities in Taiwan were due to landslides and flooding. Among the casualties was a Tanzania-flagged freighter that sank off the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The island’s fire department reported that searches are ongoing for the crew, all of whom are Myanmar nationals.
Schools, offices, and financial markets in Taiwan remained closed for a second day on Thursday, with more rain expected.
Disaster in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the typhoon exacerbated the monsoon rains, causing heavy flooding and landslides that killed 22 people. The sinking of the oil products tanker MT Terra Nova off the coast of Bataan province added to the devastation. The tanker, carrying approximately 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel oil, had 16 crew members on board, with rescuers managing to save 15 of them.
The widespread destruction has prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to order expedited relief efforts to deliver food and aid to isolated rural villages. “People there may not have eaten for days,” Mr Marcos said in a televised emergency meeting.
China braces for impact
China is preparing for Typhoon Gaemi’s arrival, with the storm’s centre now approaching Fujian province. Authorities have raised the alert status along the coastline and suspended flights, trains, and boat services. Schools and various work-related projects in certain areas have also been shut down in anticipation of the typhoon’s landfall on Thursday. In Fujian province, government officials have relocated about 150,000 people, primarily from fishing communities, as reported by state media.
The combined impact of Typhoon Gaemi across the Philippines, Taiwan, and potentially China highlights the severe and far-reaching effects of such natural disasters. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as rescue and relief efforts continue.
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