Credits:TVBS
Taipei, Taiwan — A powerful and rapidly intensifying Typhoon Gaemi is approaching Taiwan, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuring dozens as authorities shut down financial markets, schools, and offices.
The situation in Taiwan has deteriorated as Typhoon Gaemi brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and a dangerous storm surge. The storm is expected to strengthen into a super typhoon before making landfall on Taiwan’s northeastern coast on Wednesday afternoon.
In Kaohsiung, a woman was killed by a collapsed tree while riding a motorbike, according to Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center (CEOC). At least 58 others have been injured, mainly in Kaohsiung and Tainan.
Following its impact on Taiwan, the typhoon is forecasted to move towards China’s Fujian province on Thursday, bringing additional strong winds and downpours to an area already suffering from weeks of extreme rain and deadly flooding.
Currently, Gaemi is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 230 kph (145 mph), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). It is expected to make landfall near Yilan county, close to the epicenter of April’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Hualien, which injured more than 1,000 people and caused significant damage.
Taiwan, frequently struck by typhoons, has a strong track record of preparing for these storms, especially in urban areas. However, remote and mountainous regions on the east side of the island remain vulnerable to landslides. The Central Meteorological Agency (CMA) has issued a sea and land typhoon warning for the entire main island as Gaemi’s winds are expected to strengthen further to 240 kph (150 mph).
On Wednesday morning, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te inspected the CEOC headquarters in Taipei and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Heavy rains have already hit Taiwan ahead of the storm’s landfall, with mountainous areas reporting rainfall between 275 to 518 mm (10.8 to 20.3 inches).
Gaemi has intensified rapidly in the warm Pacific waters, which are at their highest recorded temperatures. Scientists attribute the rapid intensification of storms like Gaemi to hotter oceans caused by the climate crisis. The typhoon has strengthened by 96 kph (60 mph) in the past 24 hours, far exceeding the rapid intensification threshold of 56 kph (35 mph) in 24 hours.
In response to the typhoon, many Taiwanese cities, including Taipei, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung, closed schools and offices on Wednesday. Taiwan Railways also suspended some rapid train services. Dozens of flights and all regular train services were canceled for Wednesday and Thursday, with major airlines like EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines announcing disruptions.
Taiwan’s defense authorities have adjusted the ongoing Han Kuang War Games due to the typhoon. These live-fire drills are the largest annual military exercises in Taiwan, where the armed forces remain vigilant against potential threats from China. “We will adjust some of the air and naval elements given the typhoon situation,” defense ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fiang told reporters in Hualien.
Gaemi has also led to the closure of schools and government offices in the Philippines as heavy rains hit the Manila capital region and Luzon island. Some flights have been canceled, and the Philippine Stock Exchange ceased all trading on Wednesday.
