Typhoon Gaemi Brings Destruction to Taiwan and Neighbouring Countries
A powerful typhoon, Gaemi, has brought torrential rains and whipping winds to Taiwan, forcing the government to declare a typhoon holiday and suspend the stock market. The storm, packing sustained wind speeds of 190 kilometres per hour, has also affected Japan and the Philippines, causing widespread disruption and damage.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, the typhoon is expected to make landfall in the northeastern part of the island by 10 pm (1400 GMT) on Wednesday. President Lai Ching-te has urged citizens to “put safety first” and avoid going out unless necessary during the typhoon.
The weather has forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games, which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion. However, an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Penghu island, west of Taiwan.
Authorities have evacuated over 4,000 people living in precarious conditions in the northern regions, particularly Hualien, a mountainous area with a high risk of landslides. By afternoon, nearly 60 people were injured across the island from the typhoon’s impact.
Trains and ferry services have been suspended, and hundreds of international and domestic flights have been cancelled. The typhoon is expected to pass through the Taiwan Strait and hit China by Thursday in the eastern Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, where authorities have issued a red storm alert.
In Taiwan’s northeastern Yilan county, massive waves crashed against the shore, while market vendors worked quickly to protect their stalls with canvas and shops had taped glass windows. A fisher, surnamed Hsu, expressed his concerns about the typhoon, saying, “I am worried about the typhoon – the boats are my tool for making money.”
In the capital Taipei, government offices were closed, and streets emptied, while some stores sandbagged their entrances to prevent potential floodwater. Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said it would maintain normal production and has activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures at all fabrication plants.
Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods, and strong gusts. Neighbouring Japan has also been affected, with authorities urging residents to “exercise strong vigilance” against storms, high waves, and floods. In the Philippines, heavy downpours in Manila triggered widespread flooding, and a landslide in a nearby mountainous province killed four people.
The impact of the typhoon is expected to be extended to four days, with the public advised to take precautions against heavy rain and strong wind.
