Typhoon Gaemi Weakens as It Approaches Mainland China

Typhoon Gaemi has begun to weaken as it makes its way toward mainland China on Thursday. The storm’s powerful winds and torrential rains have already caused substantial disruptions, submerging roads and leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights in neighboring Taiwan. The tropical cyclone made landfall in Taiwan on Wednesday night, exhibiting wind speeds comparable to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, as reported by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, a U.S. Navy forecasting organization.

As of Thursday, Gaemi has tragically claimed the lives of at least six individuals in both Taiwan and the Philippines. The storm was traversing the Taiwan Strait early Thursday afternoon, with expectations to reach the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian later in the day, potentially arriving with the intensity of a Category 1 hurricane.

Tracking Typhoon Gaemi

Residents and officials are closely monitoring the likely path of Gaemi as it progresses.

Taiwan, with a population of approximately 23 million, is situated about 100 miles from the Chinese mainland. In response to the impending storm, Fuzhou, the provincial capital of Fujian, has implemented several precautionary measures. These include:

• Banning group gatherings
• Closing schools and tourist attractions
• Ordering the shutdown of nonessential businesses

Furthermore, other coastal provinces in China are evacuating tourists and advising ships to seek shelter in safe harbors. The China Meteorological Administration has forecasted that the storm will bring heavy rainfall to various regions of China, including Beijing, as it continues to move inland over the next five days. Southern China has already been grappling with weeks of intense rain and devastating flooding.

On the ground in Taiwan, residents are dealing with the aftermath of Gaemi’s impact. A resident of Kaohsiung was seen removing water from a flooded porch on Thursday, highlighting the storm’s effect on daily life. Local weather stations in Taiwan reported nearly four feet of rain from Typhoon Gaemi as of Thursday morning, with the island’s Central Weather Administration estimating that the total rainfall could reach up to six feet.

The storm has also resulted in significant power outages, affecting over 600,000 electricity customers in Taiwan since Wednesday, according to Taipower, the state utility provider. As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 15 percent of these customers were still without power, emphasizing the widespread challenges posed by Typhoon Gaemi.