Taiwan Braces for Powerful Typhoon Gaemi
Taiwan is on high alert as it prepares for the arrival of Typhoon Gaemi, a powerful storm expected to make landfall on the island’s North East coast in the next few hours. This marks the first typhoon of the season to affect Taiwan, leading to the cancellation of parts of its largest annual military drills.
With winds gusting up to 240Kmh (150 mph), equivalent to a high category 4 hurricane, the typhoon has brought life in the city to a standstill. Schools and offices are closed, and residents are advised to stay at home to ensure their safety.
The storm is currently tracking slightly further north and is projected to cross the north of Taiwan, including the capital Taipei, before moving out into the Taiwan straits and striking the coast of Fujian in South East China. Despite the strong winds, officials are warning that the main threat from Gaemi is the massive amount of moisture it is carrying.
The Central Weather Administration has issued a land warning for all of Taiwan, with the worst of the wind and rain expected on Wednesday and Thursday. Authorities are cautioning that more than one meter of rainfall could hit the central and southern mountains of the island in the next 24 hours, increasing the risk of landslides and flash flooding.
In response to the impending threat, the government has declared Wednesday a typhoon day, suspending work and classes across the island except for the Kinmen islands. Panic buying has been reported in supermarkets as residents stock up on essentials ahead of the storm.
While almost all domestic flights and 27 international flights have been canceled, chip manufacturing giant TSMC has confirmed that their plants will continue normal operations. The government has also called off parts of its planned week-long Hang Kuang military drills in light of the typhoon.
As Typhoon Gaemi continues its path towards Taiwan, residents are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this severe weather event.
