Typhoon Gaemi turned streets in southern Kaohsiung into rivers, flooding homes and prompting the closure of schools, offices, and the stock market for a second consecutive day. Thousands of residents were evacuated due to the severe weather.
The typhoon also intensified seasonal rains in the Philippines, causing flooding and landslides that resulted in 20 deaths. Additionally, a tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil sank off Manila, leading to an urgent response to manage the spill.
By Thursday morning, Gaemi had weakened and moved out to sea, according to Taiwan’s weather authorities.
Taiwan’s fire agency reported that a cargo ship with nine Myanmar crew members sank off the southwestern coast. The crew, who had to abandon ship, were found floating in the water. Adverse weather conditions have complicated search efforts, which began at 3:30 pm local time.
The Coast Guard later confirmed that two crew members, the first mate and the chef, had been rescued and taken to a police station. Another sailor was also found, and the search for the remaining crew members continues.
Gaemi made landfall in China’s Fujian province in the evening, bringing heavy winds and rain.
In southern Taiwan’s Pingtung county, an Indonesian freighter had to anchor on a beach due to the storm. Local TV footage showed large waves battering the vessel. The Coast Guard reported no power loss or oil leakage from the ship.
The storm, which hit Taiwan with peak winds of 190 kilometers (118 miles) per hour on Wednesday night, resulted in at least five fatalities and up to 500 injuries.
Victims included a motorist crushed by a tree in Kaohsiung, a woman killed by debris in Hualien, and three others who died from mudslides and falling trees in different locations.
Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that its annual Han Kuang war games were cut short and troops were redirected to assist with disaster relief efforts.
The storm also led to the cancellation of numerous domestic and international flights. In China’s Fujian province, all train services were suspended and the second-highest flood alert level was issued in anticipation of the storm. The national water resources ministry had warned of severe rains likely to swell rivers and lakes in Fujian and neighboring Zhejiang.
In the Philippines, recovery efforts began in Manila, where residents were clearing debris and dealing with the aftermath of the flooding. Street vendor Zenaida Cuerda lamented the loss of her livelihood due to the storm’s impact on her business and home.
Experts note that while the region frequently faces tropical storms from July to October, climate change has intensified their severity, leading to increased rainfall, flash floods, and stronger winds.