Typhoon Gaemi: One dead in Taiwan as storm intensifies into super typhoon

As Typhoon Gaemi approaches Taiwan, it has escalated into a super typhoon before making landfall. But what exactly is a super typhoon, and why is there such concern?

A super typhoon is an extremely powerful tropical cyclone in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, distinguished by sustained wind speeds of at least 150 miles per hour (241 kilometres per hour). The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) uses this classification, placing super typhoons on par with the most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, specifically Category 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Historically, super storms like Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 and Typhoon Meranti in 2016 have caused widespread destructions. More than 14 million people were affected by Haiyan. It also pushed 2.3 million people into poverty.

Typhoon Meranti which struck the Philippines, Taiwan and mainland China, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record, causing more than $2.6 billion in damage and leading to more than 30 deaths.

Typhoon Gaemi, which is churning towards Taiwan and due to make landfall in the coming few hours, has intensified into a super typhoon, according to the Philippines’ weather agency.

“Carina intensifies into super typhoon and is about to make landfall over northern Taiwan,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) wrote on X, referring to the storm by its Filipino name.

The storm’s outer winds are already battering Taiwan and earlier caused devastation in the Philippines, with heavy rain and powerful gusts contributing to floods and landslides that have killed at least 13 people.

Rescuers in the Philippines are responding to hundreds of pleas from residents stuck amid floodwaters with the coast guard “overwhelmed” as rainfall from Typhoon Gaemi continues to pound the archipelago.

In Marikina city in the eastern fringes of the Manila region, the continuing downpour swelled a major river, prompting many residents to flee to safety.

The strong currents swept away a steel cargo container, refrigerators, pieces of home furniture and tree trunks, according to the Associated Press.

Some residents called radio stations and asked to be rescued by authorities from rooftops or upper floors of their low-slung houses amid rising floodwaters.

Mayor Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon, a flood-prone city in the northern section of the capital region, assured one alarmed mother that rescue boats and trucks have been scrambling all day to help trapped residents like her.

“Stay calm. We’re doing everything we can. The local government won’t leave you behind,” Sandoval told the DZRH radio network.

Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the Philippine coast guard, where he serves as a spokesperson, has been overwhelmed with pleas from floodwater-trapped residents in the capital to be rescued, including those who were waiting for help from rooftops.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr 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.

The Philippine coast guard said more than 350 passengers and cargo truck drivers and workers were stranded in seaports after ferries and cargo ships were prohibited from venturing into rough seas.

It added that coast guard personnel helped more than 200 residents evacuate a coastal village in Batangas province south of Manila where storm-tossed waves have hit coastal houses.

Powerful winds from Typhoon Gaemi are causing damage across Taiwan.

Authorities have issued warnings for everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. One person has died after a tree fell and over 50 are injured.

“Getting too dangerous to be on the street now,” James Reynolds, a tropical cyclone interceptor, wrote on X.

Taiwan has been forced to scale back its annual war games as it braced for Typhoon Gaemi.

The island is conducting the Han Kuang military drills involving its land, air and naval forces to simulate actual battle from Monday to Friday.

The air force drills off the east coast scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled, but naval and land exercises were set to continue in and around other parts of the self-governing island.

On Wednesday, schools, offices and financial markets also shut down leaving streets of Taipei empty as heavy winds and rainfall battered the island nation.

Shweta Sharma has more details.

The government said more than 4,000 people had been evacuated from sparsely populated mountain areas.

The evacuations took place in three northern regions, particularly Hualien – a mountainous area with high risk of landslides.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said it had put 29,000 soldiers on standby for disaster relief efforts.

Extreme weather brought by Typhoon Gaemi claims its first fatality in Taiwan as one person died after getting crushed by a falling tree in the southern city of Kaohsiung, the fire department said.

Officials also reported that another 58 people were injured.

Typhoon Gaemi is expected to make landfall tonight but it is already lashing the island nation with heavy gusts of wind and rainfall.

In the Philippines, where the outer rings of the typhoon have been intensifying rainfall this week, 12 people have been confirmed dead from flooding and landslide related incidents.

Gaemi is expected to be the strongest storm to hit Taiwan in eight years.