Taiwan is facing severe disruptions as the powerful Typhoon Gaemi approaches, prompting the government to declare Wednesday a public holiday.
Financial markets, company offices, and businesses have been closed, and all flights have been canceled at airports across the island.
The military is on high alert to respond to any emergencies, according to the Taiwanese news agency CNA.
Meteorologists report that Typhoon Gaemi, with a radius of 250 kilometers, is moving northwest from the Philippine Sea towards mainland China at speeds of 9-14 kilometers per hour.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon.
Currently, wind speeds are reaching 162 km/h with gusts up to 198 km/h, but forecasters warn that Gaemi's power may intensify once it reaches land.
Island-Wide Impact Expected
The entire island of Taiwan is expected to be affected by the typhoon over the next two days, bringing torrential rains and strong winds that could result in floods, landslides, and other natural disasters.
Forecasters predict that the average precipitation will exceed 350 millimeters in the next 24 hours, with some areas potentially seeing over 500 millimeters of rainfall.
In an effort to avoid casualties and minimize damage, the Taiwanese government has taken several precautionary measures.
Declaring Wednesday a public holiday, they have closed offices and businesses, canceled all flights for the next day, and blocked traffic on the central highway and several other major roads.
The military has been put on high alert to deal with weather-related emergencies.
Expected Duration
According to forecasts, Typhoon Gaemi is expected to leave Taiwan by the end of the day on Friday.
The government continues to urge residents to stay indoors and take necessary precautions to stay safe during this period of severe weather.
