A dozen dead due to tropic storm in the Philippines
In Asia, the typhoon season has started again. Thousands of people in the Philippines have become homeless and several have died due to landslides, floods, and storm surges. Taiwan and China are now preparing for the arrival of Typhoon "Gaemi".
The Philippines are hit by an average of 20 typhoons annually. Typhoon "Gaemi" is causing chaos with heavy rain and flooding. In the Philippine capital Manila, most government buildings and all schools have been closed, as well as the stock exchange. The government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reacted to a recommendation from the disaster management agency.
According to the Philippine Meteorological Service Pagasa, the typhoon has intensified the Southwest Monsoon, which has brought heavy rains since July 11. In the past two weeks, 12 people have died due to landslides and floods, according to officials. Tens of thousands have been left homeless and evacuated.
The government has already provided financial assistance to 770,000 affected people in various regions, Marcos Jr. wrote on his Facebook page. About 4,500 rescuers are standing by for potential search, rescue, and recovery operations. In Manila, the water was up to a meter high in some places, and many roads were closed. "Gaemi" had wind speeds of up to 155 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching 190 kilometers per hour, according to Pagasa. "The typhoon and hurricane season is in full swing," the German Weather Service reported.
The Philippines are increasingly affected by extreme weather events and are among the countries most threatened by climate change. They are located in the western part of a sea area where the strongest tropical storms in the world form. Typhoon Haiyan hit the islands in 2013 with wind speeds over 270 kilometers per hour and caused over 6,300 deaths.
Taiwan and China are preparing
Schools and the stock exchange have been closed, and transportation by train, ferry, and air has been halted in Taiwan due to the approaching typhoon, which is expected to have wind speeds of up to 190 kilometers per hour. The typhoon is expected to make landfall in the northeastern part of the island around 10:00 p.m. local time.
The government declared a holiday, and President Tsai Ing-wen urged the population to prioritize safety. The Taiwan Meteorological Administration warned that "Gaemi" could be the strongest typhoon in eight years and predicted impacts through Friday.
The Taiwan Meteorological Administration called on Taiwanese people to prepare for heavy rain and strong winds. Before the typhoon's arrival, Taiwanese authorities reported that nearly 60 people had been injured nationwide, and over 4,000 had been evacuated to safety.
Northern China is also under threat from storms. The Beijing municipal government warned in a WeChat message that up to 150 millimeters of rain could fall in parts of the city within 24 hours, potentially causing landslides, floods, and other disasters.
Concerns are rising in China as well, with authorities issuing warnings and preparations for Typhoon "Gaemi".Whirlpools and extreme weather conditions are predicted, adding to the potential environmental disasters that could occur.Internationally, countries such as the Philippines and now China are experiencing the harsh impacts of these natural disasters.As Taiwan braced for the storm's arrival, neighboring China also finds itself in the path of potential typhoon damage, underlining the widespread impact of extreme weather events in Asia.
