Typhoon Gaemi Ravages China's Coastal Towns, Spreading Destruction Inland

Typhoon Gaemi struck China's Fujian province with heavy rains and strong winds, impacting 630,000 people and displacing nearly half. The storm is moving inland, raising flood risks in central China. Scientists note global warming intensifies such storms. Gaemi caused numerous casualties and infrastructure damages in Taiwan and the Philippines earlier this week.

Typhoon Gaemi pummelled towns on China's coastal Fujian province on Friday with heavy rains and strong winds, marking the most powerful storm to hit the country this year. The storm is now tracking inland, affecting heavily populated areas as it moves deeper into the interior.

Nearly 630,000 people have been impacted in Fujian, with almost half being relocated, according to Xinhua news agency. Earlier in the week, Gaemi killed dozens in Taiwan and exacerbated seasonal rains in the Philippines. Winds near the storm's centre reached up to 100.8 kph (62.6 mph), slightly easing from 118.8 kph recorded on Thursday night in Putian city.

Despite being downgraded to a tropical storm, Gaemi's vast cloud-bands pose significant flood risks, especially to rivers in central China already high from summer rains. Ahead of its landfall, President Xi Jinping chaired a special meeting emphasizing flood control and the protection of lives.

The urgency of these efforts is underscored by precipitation figures: 72 townships in Fujian saw rainfall exceeding 250 mm (9.8 inches), with some areas recording as much as 512.8 mm, according to local weather bureaus.

Gaemi is expected to reach Jiangxi province by late Friday, and forecasters warn that up to 10 provinces could be affected. Henan province, with over 100 million residents, is bracing for heavy rains starting Friday night. The impact of Gaemi is expected to extend as far north as Jilin and Liaoning provinces, both already dealing with recent flooding.

Scientists indicate that global warming is intensifying tropical storms, making them less frequent but far more powerful. On Thursday, Gaemi caused extensive flooding in Taiwan, injuring more than 700 and killing seven, as well as sinking a freighter. In the Philippines, it claimed 32 lives and led to Manila declaring a 'state of calamity' due to widespread flooding. A marine tanker carrying industrial fuel also sank off the Philippines coast.

(With inputs from agencies.)