Typhoon Gaemi kills dozens, injures hundreds and sinks ships in Taiwan and Philippines
Typhoon Gaemi worsened seasonal rains in the Philippines causing heavy flooding and landslides and a freighter to sink off the southern coast of Taiwan. Another oil products tanker has also sunk off the Philippines.
Thursday 25 July 2024 12:12, UK
Two ships have sunk, one of which was carrying millions of litres of oil, after a typhoon swept through Taiwan and Philippines leaving 25 dead and hundreds injured.
China has raised the alert status of its coastline in preparation for Typhoon Gaemi to strike, with the storm's centre now approaching Fujian province.
It was the strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years when it struck overnight with gusts of up to 141mph (227kph) killing three people, although it is now weakening.
Most of those killed have died in landslides and massive flooding after the typhoon worsened monsoon rains.
A Tanzania-flagged freighter sunk off Taiwan's southern port city of Kaohsiung and searches are ongoing for the crew, who are all Myanmar nationals, the island's fire department said.
More rain was expected across Taiwan in its wake, with offices and schools as well as the financial markets closed for a second day on Thursday.
A second ship, oil products tanker MT Terra Nova, sank off the coast of Bataan province in the Philippines.
It was loaded with about 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel oil. Rescuers saved 15 of 16 crew members.
In the Philippines, Typhoon Gaemi worsened seasonal rain with heavy flooding and landslides leaving 22 people dead.
Homes and businesses were destroyed across the two countries.
The country's president Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered authorities to speed up efforts to deliver food and other aid to isolated rural villages.
"People there may not have eaten for days," Mr Marcos said in a televised emergency meeting.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have suspended flights, trains, and boat sailings, as well as shut down schools and "work-related projects" in certain areas with the typhoon set to make landfall on Thursday.
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In the coastal province of Fujian, government officials have relocated about 150,000 people, mainly from fishing communities, state media reported.