Typhoon Gaemi Hits Taiwan: Strong Winds, Heavy Rain, and Tragic Losses
Taiwan is facing the devastating effects of Typhoon Gaemi, which has brought strong winds and heavy rain to the island. As of Wednesday night, at least three people have died and over 220 have been injured due to the storm.
Tragic Incidents
One of the victims was Wang Chin-sheng, the chief of Wuliao ward in New Taipei’s Sanxia District. He died in an accident while operating a mechanical excavator. Another victim, a 64-year-old woman named Lu, was struck by a falling tree while riding her scooter in Kaohsiung’s Fengshan District. In Hualien City, a 45-year-old woman died when a parapet wall fell, and her son was severely injured.
Widespread Impact
The storm has caused numerous injuries across Taiwan, with a total of 227 cases reported. In New Taipei’s Sanzhi District, a man named Chen was injured when the roof of his house was torn off by strong winds. In Kaohsiung’s Sinsing District, a man named Peng was hurt after falling from his scooter due to a fallen tree.
Precautionary Measures
Local authorities have taken steps to protect residents, temporarily relocating 8,569 people. Schools and offices across all 22 cities and counties in Taiwan were closed on Thursday as a precaution.
Storm’s Progress
As of 11 p.m., Typhoon Gaemi was located about 30 kilometers east-northeast of Hualien County, moving northwest at 12 km per hour. The storm’s maximum sustained winds reached 184 kph, with gusts up to 227 kph.
Doubts Revealed
Typhoon -: A typhoon is a very strong storm with lots of wind and rain. It’s like a hurricane but happens in the western Pacific Ocean.
Gaemi -: Gaemi is the name given to this particular typhoon. Typhoons are often given names to help people keep track of them.
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island country in East Asia, near China. It’s known for its modern cities and beautiful landscapes.
Winds -: Winds are the movement of air. Strong winds can blow things around and cause damage.
Rain -: Rain is water that falls from the sky. Heavy rain can cause flooding and make it hard to see or drive.
Tragic Losses -: Tragic losses mean that people have died or been hurt. It’s very sad when this happens.
Relocated -: Relocated means that people had to move to a different place to stay safe from the storm.
Hualien City -: Hualien City is a place in Taiwan. It’s on the east coast of the island.
kph -: kph stands for kilometers per hour. It’s a way to measure how fast something is moving.
Gusts -: Gusts are sudden, strong bursts of wind. They can be even stronger than the regular wind during a storm.
