Typhoon Gaemi Approaches Taiwan, Bringing Heavy Rain and Winds

Typhoon Gaemi Approaches Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi is making its way toward Taiwan, bringing with it heavy rainfall and fierce winds. As a precautionary measure, officials on the island announced the closure of schools and the cancellation of planned military exercises.

As of Wednesday morning, Gaemi exhibited maximum sustained winds of 138 miles per hour, as reported by the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. This wind speed categorizes it as a Category 4 hurricane on the five-tier scale used for assessing tropical cyclones in the Atlantic.

The storm is projected to make landfall on Taiwan’s northeastern coast Wednesday night, albeit in a slightly weakened state, according to the island’s Central Weather Administration. After passing through Taiwan, Gaemi is expected to continue its trajectory northwest toward the southeastern coast of China on Friday.

Tracking Typhoon Gaemi

Experts in meteorology have noted that the storm is intensifying as it nears Taiwan, which is home to approximately 23 million residents. They also indicated that Gaemi has a “looping track,” meaning it may linger in one location longer than anticipated, resulting in prolonged torrential rain and potential damage.

It’s worth noting that Taiwan has not experienced a typhoon of this magnitude since 2008. The threat posed by Gaemi has led to significant disruptions on the island:

• Closure of schools and businesses
• Cancellation of over 500 flights
• Power outages affecting more than 18,000 homes

The capital city, Taipei, witnessed a notable decrease in vehicular traffic, while residents flocked to supermarkets, leading to long lines as they prepared by stocking up on essential supplies such as food and drinking water.

In light of the impending severe weather, Taiwan’s defense officials announced the cancellation of several scheduled military drills. The personnel initially assigned to these drills will instead be redirected for emergency preparations and disaster relief efforts.

Additionally, Typhoon Gaemi has affected the Philippines, where it is referred to as Carina. The national meteorological agency has issued warnings about “severe winds” impacting various regions of the country. In Manila, the capital, officials reported knee-deep flooding in several areas, leading to the closure of government offices on Wednesday.

Contributions to this report were made by Yan Zhuang.