Taiwan Braces for Typhoon Gaemi: Schools Closed, Flights Canceled

Taiwan shut down offices, schools, and tourist sites as Typhoon Gaemi approached, already causing severe weather in the Philippines with eight deaths and 600,000 displaced. Fishing boats were recalled, flights canceled, and government work suspended in response to the storm, expected to make landfall in Ylan county.

Taiwan shuttered offices, schools, and tourist sites across the island Wednesday, preparing for the powerful Typhoon Gaemi, which had already exacerbated seasonal rains in the Philippines, resulting in eight deaths and 600,000 displaced individuals.

Typhoon Gaemi's outer bands brought heavy rain to Taiwan, with a direct landfall anticipated Wednesday evening in the northern county of Ylan. Fishing boats were recalled to port, and air travelers rushed to board flights before the storm's arrival, amid numerous cancellations.

On Wednesday morning, the typhoon was east of Taiwan, moving at 13 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained wind speeds of 162 kilometers per hour, and gusts reaching 198 kilometers per hour, according to the Central Weather Administration. In the capital, Taipei, heavy rain was already falling.

In the Philippines, known as Typhoon Carina, the storm amplified monsoon rains, causing landslides and floods over five days, resulting in eight deaths and displacing 600,000 people, including 35,000 who found refuge in emergency shelters. The disruption led to suspension of government work and school classes in the densely populated region around the Philippine capital.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed agencies to provide swift assistance to those affected by the typhoon and the enhanced monsoon rains. The Philippine coast guard reported that more than 350 passengers and cargo members were stranded in seaports after ferries and cargo ships were prohibited from sailing in rough seas.

Despite the challenges, Taiwan has significantly improved its resilience to such storms through early warnings and preparations. The effects of Typhoon Gaemi were expected to persist into Friday as it moved toward mainland China.

(With inputs from agencies.)