Taiwan braces for Typhoon Gaemi after rains create chaos in Philippines
Al Jazeera
Taiwan evacuates more than 2,100 people and puts 29,000 soldiers on standby for disaster relief efforts.
Taiwan has shuttered offices and schools and grounded flights as the island braces for a powerful typhoon that is expected to make landfall in a few hours after deluging swaths of the Philippines.
Typhoon Gaemi is forecast to hit northeastern Taiwan by 10pm (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday, and President William Lai Ching-te urged everyone to “put safety first” during an emergency briefing.
The 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.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it had put 29,000 soldiers on standby for disaster relief efforts.
The typhoon also prompted the cancellation of Taiwan’s annual air force drills off its eastern coast and ferry services.
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