Typhoon Gaemi made landfall in southeastern China on Thursday after crossing the Taiwan Strait, bringing warnings of swelling rivers, flash floods, and waterlogging. The typhoon, which is the third and strongest to hit China's eastern seaboard this year, struck Fujian province at 7:50 p.m. local time, after battering Taiwan with winds reaching 227 kph (141 mph). In preparation, over 240,000 people were evacuated from Fujian.
Although Gaemi has slightly weakened since its landfall in Putian, a city with over 3 million residents, it is expected to bring heavy rainfall to at least 10 provinces in China over the coming days. This has led to concerns about dangerous water levels in the Yangtze River and large lakes like Poyang and Dongting, which had already been elevated due to intense summer rains. Beijing has also been warned of possible strong rainfall even as the typhoon weakens into a tropical depression.
In Taiwan, Gaemi caused significant damage, killing three people, flooding areas, and sinking a freighter. The typhoon, the most powerful to strike Taiwan in eight years, resulted in rainfall totals of up to 2,200 mm (87 inches) in some areas and left about half a million households without power, though most have been restored. The typhoon also injured 380 people and led to the sinking of a freighter with nine Myanmar nationals on board; three of them were later found alive.
Taiwanese cities and counties experienced severe flooding, and the storm forced the closure of offices, schools, and financial markets, and halted train services and flights.
