Recent heavy rains and floods from Typhoon Gaemi have wreaked havoc in the southern Chinese province of Hunan, resulting in at least 30 deaths and 35 people reported missing across eight towns. The state-run news agency Xinhua revealed that rescue teams managed to reach these isolated towns that had been cut off from the outside world due to damaged infrastructure and power grids.
Local authorities confirmed that significant progress has been made in restoring roads, electricity, and communications in the severely affected towns of Zixing City. Despite the improvements, ongoing search and rescue operations are still in full swing to locate the missing individuals and provide assistance to those in need.
In response to the dire situation in Hunan, China has elevated its emergency response level to bolster support for local disaster relief efforts and ensure the basic living security of affected residents. The Ministry of Emergency Management in China made this announcement on Thursday, underscoring the government's commitment to aiding those impacted by the natural disaster.
Typhoon Gaemi made its initial landfall in China with winds reaching speeds of up to 110 kph (70 mph) on July 25. The storm proceeded west-northwest, unleashing heavy rainfall and strong winds across the region. Meteorologists have warned of potential rainfall ranging from 150 to 250 mm (6 to 10 inches), with even higher amounts of up to 400 mm (15 inches) expected in elevated areas and along the coast.
Prior to reaching China, Typhoon Gaemi caused significant flooding in Taiwan, where some townships experienced over 1,285mm (50 inches) of rainfall. The storm's trajectory was altered by Taiwan's mountainous terrain, leading it to linger offshore for more than six hours near the Hualien coastline instead of making a direct landfall as initially predicted.
Further south, Gaemi also brought extensive flooding to the Philippine capital, exacerbating the already severe monsoon rains in the region. The aftermath of Typhoon Gaemi serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the importance of swift and coordinated response efforts to mitigate their impact on vulnerable communities.
