Typhoon Gaemi: Taiwan grounds flights as it braces for storm

EPA A woman holding an umbrella walks in heavy rain, after multiple local governments across the island suspended work and classes to brace for Typhoon Gaemi; in New Taipei, Taiwan, 24 July 2024EPA

Typhoon Gaemi, which is expected to make land on the region’s North East coast in the coming days, is expected to make landfall in Taiwan.

Parts of the island’s largest yearly military drills have been canceled as a result of the storm, which is the first storms to strike the area this season.

Schools and practices are closed, and residents are advised to stay at home as a result.

In terms of wind strength and destructive potential, the typhoon is experiencing winds of 240Kmh ( 150 mph ), which is the equivalent of a high category 4 hurricane.

The surprise is already moving a little more north, making it possible to cross Taiwan’s north tonight, including Taipei, the country’s capital. On Thursday, it will travel through the Taiwan strait and hit the beach of Fujian in South East China.

Despite the extremely powerful winds, Gaemi’s massive amount of moisture is believed to be its main threat, according to authorities.

The region’s Central Weather Administration has issued a area alert for Taiwan, with forecasts for worst wind and rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

Officials in Taiwan are issuing a notice that the island’s central and southern mountains could experience more than one meter of snowfall in the next 24 hrs.

A massive earthquake earlier this year, which destabilized mountainsides, hit the region in central Taiwan, which will be hit. Thus, flash flooding and landslides are possible.

Job and classes across the island will be suspended on Wednesday as a result of the government’s decision to designate it as a tornado time, aside from the Kinmen islands.

EPA A woman walks past an empty shelves after panic buyers rushed to supermarkets, after multiple local governments across the island suspended work and classes to brace for Typhoon GaemiEPA

Nearly all domestic flights has been cancelled, along with 27 international flights, according to the transport government.

But, device manufacturer TSMC has assured the BBC that their factories will continue to operate normally.

On Tuesday night, individuals stocked up in supermarkets in the investment Taipei ahead of what is expected to be a steep price increase following the typhoon’s passing, which has seen heavy rains and winds picking up.

The government has also had to cancel parts of its scheduled week-long Hang Kuang military training on Tuesday due to the threat of the storms, despite having repeatedly stated that the drills would be” the most practical ever”.

Heavy rain was also recorded on Wednesday in the Philippines ‘ capital region and northern provinces due to Gaemi and a south rain. While investment and foreign exchange trading were suspended, there were no lessons or job.