Typhoon Gaemi battered towns in China’s coastal Fujian province on Friday with intense rain and strong winds as it became the most powerful storm to hit the country this year and began its movement into the densely populated interior.
The storm has impacted nearly 630,000 people in Fujian, with over 300,000 having been relocated, according to Xinhua news agency. Earlier this week, Gaemi caused several fatalities as it passed through Taiwan and intensified seasonal rains in the Philippines.
Although Gaemi has weakened to a tropical storm, with winds decreasing from 118.8 km/h to 100.8 km/h since its landfall in Putian, Fujian, its extensive cloud bands continue to pose a significant flood risk, particularly to rivers in central China already swollen from summer rains.
Hours before the typhoon’s arrival, the Standing Committee of the Communist Party’s Politburo, led by President Xi Jinping, held an urgent meeting on flood control and urged officials nationwide to safeguard lives. They emphasized preventing breaches of major rivers and the collapse of significant reservoirs, according to Xinhua.
In Fujian, 72 townships recorded over 250 mm of precipitation, with the highest amount reaching 512.8 mm, as reported by local weather bureaus.
By late Friday, Gaemi is expected to reach Jiangxi province, home to China’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang. Forecasters warned that up to 10 provinces could be affected, including Henan, which has a population of over 100 million. Henan’s meteorological bureau anticipates rain starting Friday night.
As Gaemi progresses into next week, its effects are expected to reach as far north as Jilin and Liaoning provinces, both still recovering from recent summer storms that caused significant flooding.
Scientists have noted that global warming is intensifying tropical storms, making them less frequent but much more severe, according to a recent report.
On Thursday, Gaemi caused widespread flooding in several Taiwanese cities, injuring over 700 people, killing seven, and sinking a freighter off the coast. Rescuers in Taiwan retrieved nearly 1,000 people from floodwaters using inflatable boats, according to government reports.
