After engulfing Taiwan, Typhoon Gaemi makes landfall in China.

Typhoon Gaemi Hits Fujian Province After Devastating Taiwan and the Philippines

Typhoon Gaemi has struck China’s southeastern Fujian province after causing significant damage across Taiwan and the Philippines. Heavy rains and strong winds have left a trail of destruction, sinking ships and claiming lives.

China Braces for Impact

China’s CCTV reported that Typhoon Gaemi made landfall at 7:50 p.m. local time in Fujian province, bringing torrential rains expected to spread northwest. Xinhua, the state news agency, stated that over 150,000 people were evacuated from the province in anticipation of the storm.

Taiwan Faces the Strongest Storm in Eight Years

In Taiwan, businesses and schools in the northern regions were closed for a second day as Gaemi, the most powerful storm to hit the island in eight years, wreaked havoc. The typhoon caused widespread flooding, power outages, and resulted in three fatalities with hundreds more injured.

Footage on social media showed streets in the capital, Taipei, transformed into rivers, with water levels reaching above car wheels. The Taiwan meteorological office reported over 100 centimeters (39 inches) of rain in various areas between Wednesday night and midday Thursday. Kaohsiung, a southern port city, recorded 135 centimeters (53 inches) of rain, leaving large parts of the city submerged.

Maritime Disasters

Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council reported that five freighters were stranded off the coast, with one sinking. The sunken ship, a Tanzania-flagged freighter, had nine Myanmar nationals on board. Rescue operations are still ongoing.

Philippines Experience Severe Flooding

Although Typhoon Gaemi did not directly hit the Philippines, it intensified the seasonal monsoon rains, leading to severe floods and landslides that claimed 22 lives. The Philippines Coast Guard is working to contain an oil spill from the MT Terra Nova, a tanker that sank amid the rough seas caused by the typhoon.

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Efforts to Contain the Oil Spill

The MT Terra Nova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it sank off the coast of Limay in Bataan province, resulting in one fatality among the crew. An oil slick several kilometers long has been detected near the wreck site. The coast guard has deployed a ship to assist with rescue efforts and to evaluate the status of the tanker. Out of 17 crew members, 16 have been rescued.

Read also: Kargil Vijay Diwas 2024: Revealing the Significance of Historical Dates and Their ImpactThis summary draws on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.