Rescue teams in Taiwan are searching for a cargo ship that sank off the southern coast amid the onslaught of Typhoon Gaemi. The Tanzania-flagged freighter was near the port city of Kaohsiung when the storm hit.
The typhoon, which made landfall on Taiwan’s east coast on Wednesday, has caused significant devastation. In addition to the missing cargo ship, the storm has led to the deaths of three people and injured hundreds on the island. More than 8,000 people have been temporarily relocated, and numerous flights have been canceled.
Taiwan's Coastguard Administration reported that the sunken freighter, named Fu Shun, had nine Myanmar nationals on board. In addition to this incident, three other foreign vessels ran aground but were reported safe.
The storm's impact extended to the Philippines, where relentless rain led to the capsizing of a tanker carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of industrial fuel in Manila Bay. Sixteen crew members of the Philippine-flagged MT Terra Nova were rescued, but one remains missing, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista. The incident caused a significant oil spill stretching several kilometers.
Typhoon Gaemi, after causing havoc in Taiwan and the Philippines, is expected to make a second landfall in mainland China. The storm initially intensified rainy conditions in the Philippines, leading to the deaths of eight people.
In Taiwan, the storm forced the cancellation of major annual military drills, most domestic flights, and over 200 international flights. The Central Weather Administration issued a land warning for the entire island. Among the casualties was a motorist struck by a falling tree and another person crushed by an overturned excavator.
Supermarket shelves in Taipei were emptied as residents stocked up on supplies ahead of anticipated price increases post-typhoon. The storm is projected to weaken as it crosses Taiwan’s mountainous terrain before reaching China's Fujian province, where rail operations have been suspended in anticipation.
In the Philippines, Metro Manila was declared a state of calamity due to severe flooding. Images on social media depicted cars floating in deep waters and commuters stranded on bus rooftops.
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