5 Dead 500 Hurt as Typhoon Slams Taiwan

Typhoon Gaemi batters Taiwan with torrential rain and strong winds, causing widespread flooding and leaving dozens stranded at sea. At least five people have died and hundreds injured as rescue efforts continue.

CONTENTS: 5 Dead 500 Hurt as Typhoon Slams Taiwan

• Typhoon Gaemi sinks ship, rescues underway
• Dozens stranded on freighters after typhoon
• Typhoon floods Taiwan, dozens injured

Typhoon Gaemi sinks ship, rescues underway

5 Dead 500 Hurt as Typhoon Slams Taiwan

On Friday, Taiwan’s coast guard attempted to rescue numerous sailors stranded off the southern coast following Typhoon Gaemi, which had caused a freighter to sink and left eight others grounded in the Taiwan Strait.

The intense typhoon struck Taiwan on Thursday with winds reaching up to 227 kph (141 mph) before moving westward across the Taiwan Strait toward China, where it is anticipated to bring heavy rain. So far, one crew member has been found dead, four have been rescued, and four remain missing after a cargo ship flagged from Tanzania sank near Kaohsiung port, according to Taiwan’s coast guard officials.

According to the coast guard, seventy-nine crew members were still awaiting rescue from eight other freighters stranded by Typhoon Gaemi. Earlier, nine individuals were rescued from a Togo-flagged freighter that had ended up stranded on a beach.

Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council Minister, Kuan Bi-ling, who oversees the coast guard, posted on Facebook that despite their efforts to navigate through five-meter-high waves, their ships could only approach within one nautical mile of the stranded vessels but were unable to get closer. She noted that the number of freighters stranded by this typhoon was unprecedented and assured that rescue operations would continue.

In Taiwan, the storm brought over 1,800 mm (70.8 inches) of rain to the southern mountains since Tuesday, leading to flash floods in various cities and towns, although the flooding has mostly subsided.

The typhoon caused injuries to more than 500 people and resulted in five deaths, primarily due to falling objects. Rescuers used inflatable boats to help more than 300 people out of the floodwaters. Most businesses and schools in southern Taiwan remained closed for a third consecutive day.