Typhoon Gaemi Strikes: Taiwan and Philippines Face Challenges

As Typhoon Gaemi wreaks havoc across Taiwan and the Philippines, communities are coming together to weather the storm’s impact. In the Philippines, the government has declared a state of calamity for Metro Manila, home to about 15 million residents. This declaration empowers local officials to allocate emergency funds for swift relief operations.

Despite heavy rains continuing today, the situation has shown signs of improvement compared to the previous day. While schools and some offices remain closed, efforts to restore normalcy are underway.

Tragically, Taiwan has reported three fatalities. A woman lost her life when a falling tree struck her motorized scooter, another man was crushed by an overturned excavator, and a third woman died after a wall collapsed onto her car. Over 200 people have sustained injuries, and more than 290,000 homes are experiencing power outages, according to disaster officials.

A significant incident involved a tanker, MT Terra Nova, which capsized off the coast of the Philippines, resulting in an oil spill extending several kilometers. While 16 crew members have been rescued, one remains missing. The typhoon’s effects, though it did not make landfall in the Philippines, intensified monsoon rains, leading to widespread flooding in the capital region and northern provinces.

Despite its path over the Pacific, Typhoon Gaemi intensified seasonal monsoon rains, affecting multiple regions. As the storm progresses, it is expected to cross northern Taiwan before moving toward the Chinese mainland. The storm’s winds are predicted to weaken as it travels further inland.