Typhoon Gaemi, the most powerful storm to impact China this year, battered the coastal Fujian province on Friday, unleashing heavy rains and strong winds as it advanced into the country’s populous interior. The storm has already caused significant disruption, affecting nearly 630,000 people in Fujian, with about half of them needing to be relocated, according to Xinhua news agency.
The storm made landfall in the Fujian city of Putian, packing winds of up to 100.8 kph (62.6 mph), a decrease from the 118.8 kph recorded on Thursday night. Although Gaemi has been downgraded to a tropical storm due to its reduced wind speeds, its extensive cloud bands continue to pose a serious flood risk, particularly to rivers in central China that are already swollen from summer rains.
Government Response and Typhoon Gaemi Flooding Concerns
In response to the imminent threat, the Standing Committee of the Communist Party’s Politburo, led by President Xi Jinping, convened a special meeting on flood control. The meeting emphasized the need to protect lives and prevent breaches in major rivers and the collapse of significant reservoirs, Xinhua reported.
Fujian province has seen considerable precipitation, with 72 townships recording rainfall exceeding 250 mm (9.8 inches), and some areas reaching up to 512.8 mm. The typhoon is expected to continue its path inland, reaching Jiangxi province by late Friday. Jiangxi is home to Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, which may face additional strain from the incoming rains.
Forecasters predict that Gaemi will impact as many as 10 provinces, including Henan, which has a population of over 100 million. The meteorological bureau of Henan expects the storm to bring rains starting Friday night. The effects of Gaemi are anticipated to extend further north into Jilin and Liaoning provinces next week, areas already struggling with flooding from recent storms.
Previous Impact on Taiwan and the Philippines
Before reaching China, Typhoon Gaemi caused widespread damage in Taiwan and the Philippines. On Thursday, the storm inundated several Taiwanese cities and towns, injuring over 700 people and claiming seven lives. The storm also sank a freighter off Taiwan’s coast. Rescue operations in Taiwan involved nearly 1,000 people being evacuated from floodwaters using inflatable boats.
In the Philippines, Gaemi resulted in 32 fatalities, with the capital, Manila, declaring a “state of calamity” due to extensive flooding. A marine tanker carrying industrial fuel also sank in the rough seas off the Philippines, exacerbating the disaster.
Scientists have warned that global warming is intensifying tropical storms, making them less frequent but significantly more severe. This trend is evident in Typhoon Gaemi’s path of destruction across the region.
Also Read : The Enterprise world
