Tropical storm Gaemi, which initially made landfall on China's east coast with the force of a typhoon on Thursday, continued to affect the region as it moved inland, bringing heavy rains to central China by Saturday. The storm caused significant disruptions in various parts of the country, felling trees, flooding streets, and damaging crops, though fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or major structural damage in China. However, the storm's impact was more severe in Taiwan and the Philippines, where it caused multiple fatalities and extensive damage.
In Taiwan, Gaemi crossed at typhoon strength, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including several who were struck by falling trees and one who was killed by a landslide. The storm led to severe flooding, with water levels rising to waist-deep in some areas, sending cars and scooters floating down the streets. More than 850 people were injured, and one person was reported missing. The emergency operations center in Taiwan worked diligently to manage the aftermath, with residents and business owners engaging in cleanup efforts to clear mud and water from their properties.
Visiting the hard-hit southern city of Kaohsiung, President Lai Ching-te praised the city’s flood control improvements since a devastating typhoon in 2009. He announced that households in severely flooded areas would receive cash payments of $20,000 New Taiwan Dollars ($610) to aid in recovery efforts. In addition, a cargo ship sank near Kaohsiung Harbor during the storm, resulting in the death of the captain, whose body was later recovered. Several other ships were also beached by the intense weather.
In the Philippines, the impact of Gaemi, known locally as Carina, was particularly devastating. Although the storm did not directly strike the archipelago, it exacerbated seasonal monsoon rains, leading to widespread flooding and landslides that claimed at least 34 lives. The Manila metro area was particularly hard-hit, with 11 fatalities reported as people were trapped on rooftops and upper floors of their homes due to rising floodwaters. Victims in the region drowned or were electrocuted in their inundated communities.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for accelerated efforts to deliver food and aid to isolated rural villages, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as many people had been without food for days. Tragically, the bodies of a pregnant woman and three children were recovered after a landslide buried their shanty in the rural mountainside town of Agoncillo in Batangas province. The continuing rains and flooding have strained the resources of local authorities and emergency responders, highlighting the ongoing challenges in managing the effects of such natural disasters.
In China, the storm, now weakened to a tropical storm, is expected to bring continued heavy rains as it moves northwest into Jiangxi, Hubei, and Henan provinces. The economic impact in Fujian province, where Gaemi made landfall, includes damage to approximately 85 hectares (210 acres) of crops, with estimated losses amounting to 11.5 million yuan ($1.6 million). The storm also forced the relocation of more than 290,000 people, underscoring the extensive disruptions caused by this severe weather event.
Elsewhere in China, several days of heavy rains in Gansu province led to additional casualties, with one person reported dead and three others missing. The persistent rainfall has caused widespread concern and necessitated continued vigilance and response efforts from emergency services.
In summary, Tropical Storm Gaemi's passage has left a trail of destruction across multiple countries, with significant loss of life and property damage. The storm's impact has been felt most acutely in Taiwan and the Philippines, while China continues to manage the aftermath as the storm moves inland. The responses from local and national authorities in these regions reflect the ongoing challenges of disaster management and the resilience of affected communities in the face of natural calamities.
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