Manila (AFP) – Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines on Wednesday, triggering flooding in Manila and landslides in mountainous regions as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon.
Issued on: 24/07/2024 -
People making their way through a flooded street in Manila as Typhoon Gaemi hit © Ted ALJIBE / AFP
In the densely populated capital, rescuers were deployed across the city to help evacuate people from low-lying homes after downpours turned streets into rivers.
People clutched flimsy umbrellas as they waded through thigh-deep murky water or used small boats and shopping trolleys to move around.
Government offices were shut and classes suspended, while more than 70 domestic and international flights were cancelled because of the weather.
"Many areas are flooded so we have rescuers deployed all over the city. There is an overwhelming number of people asking for help," Peachy de Leon, a disaster official in suburban Manila, told AFP.
"We were told last night the rain will not hit us, then the rain suddenly poured so we were quite shocked. There is an ongoing search and rescue now."
Typhoon Gaemi, which has swept past the Philippines as it heads towards Taiwan, intensified the southwest monsoon rains typical for this time of year, the state weather forecaster said.
"Usually the peak of rainy season is July and August and it so happens that there is a typhoon in the eastern waters of the Philippines that enhances the southwest monsoon," senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar told AFP.
A bus ploughs through a flooded street in Manila © Ted ALJIBE / AFP
More than 200 millimetres (nearly eight inches) of rain fell in the capital in the past 24 hours, Escullar said, which was "not unusual".
Landslides killed a pregnant woman and three children in Batangas province, south of Manila, and blocked three major roads in the mountainous Benguet province, police and disaster officials said Wednesday.
That takes the death toll from heavy rains over swaths of the country in the past two weeks to at least 12, as tens of thousands sheltered in evacuation centres.
In the densely populated capital, rescuers were deployed across the city to help evacuate people from low-lying homes after downpours turned streets into rivers.
People clutched flimsy umbrellas as they waded through thigh-deep murky water or used small boats and shopping trolleys to move around.
Government offices were shut and classes suspended, while more than 70 domestic and international flights were cancelled because of the weather.
"Many areas are flooded so we have rescuers deployed all over the city. There is an overwhelming number of people asking for help," Peachy de Leon, a disaster official in suburban Manila, told AFP.
"We were told last night the rain will not hit us, then the rain suddenly poured so we were quite shocked. There is an ongoing search and rescue now."
Typhoon Gaemi, which has swept past the Philippines as it heads towards Taiwan, intensified the southwest monsoon rains typical for this time of year, the state weather forecaster said.
"Usually the peak of rainy season is July and August and it so happens that there is a typhoon in the eastern waters of the Philippines that enhances the southwest monsoon," senior weather specialist Glaiza Escullar told AFP.
A bus ploughs through a flooded street in Manila © Ted ALJIBE / AFPMore than 200 millimetres (nearly eight inches) of rain fell in the capital in the past 24 hours, Escullar said, which was "not unusual".
Landslides killed a pregnant woman and three children in Batangas province, south of Manila, and blocked three major roads in the mountainous Benguet province, police and disaster officials said Wednesday.
That takes the death toll from heavy rains over swaths of the country in the past two weeks to at least 12, as tens of thousands sheltered in evacuation centres.
Taiwan braces for Typhoon Gaemi to make landfall
Yilan (AFP) – Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island, bringing torrential rains and whipping winds to its northeast.
Issued on: 24/07/2024 -
Yilan (AFP) – Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island, bringing torrential rains and whipping winds to its northeast.
Issued on: 24/07/2024 -
Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and issued a typhoon holiday on Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island © Sam Yeh / AFP
Typhoon Gaemi, packing sustained wind speeds of 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, also affected Japan and the Philippines -- which also announced that government offices would close for the day.
It is expected to make landfall in northeast Taiwan by 10 pm (1400 GMT), and President Lai Ching-te urged everyone to "put safety first" during a morning emergency briefing.
"Gaemi is this year's first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan," Lai said.
"I hope that through our joint efforts, impact from the typhoon can be minimised... I also encourage fellow citizens across the country not to go out unless necessary during the typhoon, especially not to dangerous places."
The weather forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games -- which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion -- but an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning on Penghu island, west of Taiwan.
Authorities evacuated more than 2,100 people living in precarious conditions in three northern regions, particularly Hualien -- a mountainous area with high risk of landslides.
Trains and ferry services were suspended and more than 250 international flights were cancelled on Wednesday.
"We expect that the impact of the typhoon will be extended to four days (until Friday)," said Taiwan's Central Weather Administration chief Cheng Jia-ping, adding that the public would need to "take precautions against heavy rain and strong wind".
Massive waves crashed against the coast of northeastern Yilan county and, in the capital Taipei, shops and government offices were closed.
Typhoon Gaemi, packing sustained wind speeds of 162 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, also affected Japan and the Philippines -- which also announced that government offices would close for the day.
It is expected to make landfall in northeast Taiwan by 10 pm (1400 GMT), and President Lai Ching-te urged everyone to "put safety first" during a morning emergency briefing.
"Gaemi is this year's first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan," Lai said.
"I hope that through our joint efforts, impact from the typhoon can be minimised... I also encourage fellow citizens across the country not to go out unless necessary during the typhoon, especially not to dangerous places."
The weather forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games -- which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion -- but an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning on Penghu island, west of Taiwan.
Authorities evacuated more than 2,100 people living in precarious conditions in three northern regions, particularly Hualien -- a mountainous area with high risk of landslides.
Trains and ferry services were suspended and more than 250 international flights were cancelled on Wednesday.
"We expect that the impact of the typhoon will be extended to four days (until Friday)," said Taiwan's Central Weather Administration chief Cheng Jia-ping, adding that the public would need to "take precautions against heavy rain and strong wind".
Massive waves crashed against the coast of northeastern Yilan county and, in the capital Taipei, shops and government offices were closed.
Massive waves crashed against the coast of northeastern Yilan county © I-Hwa CHENG / AFP
Student Ray Su said he was "very happy" that he didn't have to go to cram school -- a specialised centre that tutors students.
"When the teacher announced the typhoon holiday last night, the whole class cheered," Su told AFP, adding that he was "not too worried" about the typhoon's impact.
Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said it will maintain normal production and the firm "has activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures" at all fabrication plants.
Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts.
In neighbouring Japan, authorities of a southern island region of Okinawa urged residents to "exercise strong vigilance" against storms, high waves and floods.
In the Philippines, meanwhile, heavy downpours in Manila triggered widespread flooding and a landslide in a nearby mountainous province killed four people.
burs-dhc/fox
© 2024 AFP
Student Ray Su said he was "very happy" that he didn't have to go to cram school -- a specialised centre that tutors students.
"When the teacher announced the typhoon holiday last night, the whole class cheered," Su told AFP, adding that he was "not too worried" about the typhoon's impact.
Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, said it will maintain normal production and the firm "has activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures" at all fabrication plants.
Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts.
In neighbouring Japan, authorities of a southern island region of Okinawa urged residents to "exercise strong vigilance" against storms, high waves and floods.
In the Philippines, meanwhile, heavy downpours in Manila triggered widespread flooding and a landslide in a nearby mountainous province killed four people.
burs-dhc/fox
© 2024 AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment