On Thursday night, a powerful typhoon hit China’s southeast coast in the Fujian province after reportedly causing 22 deaths in the Philippines earlier in the week and sweeping past the neighbouring island of Taiwan.
The typhoon Gaemi, also known as Carina in the Philippines, intensified the already high monsoon rains along the western Pacific, causing landslides and floods in low-lying areas. The death toll increased because of landslides and drowning in the Philippines. The Philippines’ police also reported that at least three individuals went missing.
Rescuers saved 15 of the 16 crew members on board the oil tanker MT Terra Nova when it sank early on Thursday off the coast of Limay, Bataan province, carrying around 1.4 million litres (370,000 gallons) of industrial fuel oil.
Earlier in the day, the typhoon had battered Taiwan with gusts as high as 227 kmph (141 mph), which is among the highest winds in the Western Pacific Ocean ever recorded, leaving at least three people dead.
Taiwanese businesses and educational institutions were closed for a second day on Thursday, and residents were advised to stay indoors and away from the coast. This week’s air force exercises along the east coast of Taiwan were canceled due to the storm.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that a 78-year-old man lost his life on Thursday afternoon after his home was struck by a mudslide and that two individuals had perished on Wednesday before the storm made landfall at midnight. The injuries totaled 380 people.
According to the official Xinhua News Agency, more than 240,000 people were evacuated, and trains, aircraft, and ferry services were cancelled before its arrival in China’s Fujian province.
Over the following three days, inland areas such as Beijing, the nation’s capital, should expect heavy rains from the storm, even if it is predicted to decrease.
Article by Lena Ndolo
