Taiwan closed financial markets, shut schools and offices, and cancelled flights as powerful Typhoon Gaemi gained strength before making landfall on Wednesday. The storm has already left several people dead in the Philippines and is expected to drench China as well after passing over Taiwan.
Weather authorities in Taiwan say the strong typhoon is expected to be the largest storm to hit the island in eight years with gusts of up to 227 kilometers per hour near its center.
Annual military exercises, which are ongoing this week, were curtailed as the storm approached but not canceled.
Speaking during a televised meeting of the emergency response center, Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai warned that the "next 24 hours will present a very severe challenge."
The impact of the storm is already being felt, as torrential rain and winds whipped up by the typhoon killed one person in the southern city of Kaohsiung, and injured another 60 people, according to authorities.
Gaemi has already had a big impact on the Philippines, flooding the capital of Manila and adding to already seasonal rainfall. According to the Philippines' disaster risk mitigation agency, the severe weather left around a dozen people dead, and displaced 600,000, including 35,000 who are in emergency shelters.
People walk through a street flooded from monsoon rains worsened by offshore typhoon Gaemi in Manila, Philippines, July 24, 2024.
Weather forecasters say Taiwan is expecting rain of up to 1,800 mm in some mountainous counties in its central and southern areas, which could trigger landslides. Authorities have already evacuated some 4,000 people from sparsely populated mountainous areas.
In an attempt to mitigate damage, 29,000 soldiers have been put on standby for disaster relief efforts by Taiwan's defense ministry.
The typhoon is also expected to add to already heavy rains drenching China's south starting Thursday. The rains are expected to last until July 31, fueled by Gaemi's abundant moisture, according to China's water resources ministry.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te urged the public to "put safety first" as he took part in a morning emergency briefing.
"I hope that through our joint efforts, impact from the typhoon can be minimized," he said. " ... I also encourage fellow citizens across the country not to go out unless necessary during the typhoon, especially not to dangerous places."
