Typhoon Gaemi Wreaks Havoc in Taiwan Before Heading to China

Typhoon Gaemi has hit northern Taiwan, causing two fatalities, extensive flooding, and power outages before moving toward China's Fujian province. The storm has disrupted air, sea, and rail transportation, prompting the evacuation of thousands and emergency warnings in affected regions.

Typhoon Gaemi swept through northern Taiwan on Thursday, causing two fatalities, triggering flooding, and sinking a freighter offshore before heading across the sea into China, where it is expected to cause more torrential rain. The typhoon, the strongest in eight years for the island, made landfall at midnight (1600 GMT Wednesday) in Yilan county on Taiwan's northeastern coast, packing gusts up to 227 kph (141 mph) before weakening, according to the Central Weather Administration.

As of 12:15 pm (0415 GMT), Gaemi was in the Taiwan Strait and heading toward Fuzhou in China's Fujian province. The storm disrupted electrical services, leaving around half a million households without power, though service has since been restored for most, according to utility Taipower. Taiwan's fire department reports that a Tanzania-flagged freighter with nine Myanmar nationals sank off the coast of Kaohsiung, and search efforts are underway as there has been no response from the crew. The high-speed train linking north and south Taiwan will re-open at 2 pm (0600GMT) whereas domestic flights and 195 international flights have been cancelled.

In China, weather forecasters predict heavy rainfall as Gaemi moves through Fujian province and heads north with less intensity. Government authorities in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have issued warnings and advisories, with around 150,000 people relocated, mainly from coastal fishing communities, and passenger waterway routes suspended for up to three days. Flights have been mostly canceled in Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Wenzhou. North China sees separate heavy rain, prompting emergency plans in Beijing where over 25,000 people have been evacuated and train services suspended.