8 dead from Typhoon Gaemi in Taiwan

Taipei (Taiwan), July 27: At least eight people have died in Taiwan since Wednesday as Typhoon Gaemi intensified, the Central Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) said, Focus Taiwan reported.

According to CEOC statistics released on Friday, one person was reported missing and 866 people were injured during and after the typhoon that swept across Taiwan.

The typhoon has already left Taiwan and weakened to a tropical storm. It has now reached China, but central and southern Taiwan could still receive significant rainfall, Focus Taiwan reported.

The victims include a 64-year-old motorcyclist who was killed after being hit by a falling tree in Kaohsiung; a 44-year-old woman who was killed by a collapsed roof wall in Hualien County; and a 78-year-old man who was killed in a landslide in Kaohsiung.

In addition, a 65-year-old man fell to the ground while doing repairs at home and later died in a hospital in Tainan, Focus Taiwan reported.

A 75-year-old scooter rider crashed into a fallen tree and fell to the ground. He was rushed to a hospital in Yulin County, where doctors were unable to revive him.

According to the CEOC, two bodies – a man and a woman – were found in flooded fields at two separate locations in Shiushang Township, Chiayi County.

However, they have not yet been identified and the cases are still under investigation, Focus Taiwan reports.

In Chiayi County, an employee of the Alishan Forest Railway was found without signs of life in his car, hit by falling rocks. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, authorities are still searching for a 67-year-old man surnamed Kuo who reportedly fell into a culvert in Fanlu Township, Chiayi County.

In addition, 866 people were injured by the typhoon, the center said.

The highest number of injuries (259) was reported in Kaohsiung, followed by 125 in Tainan and 120 in Taichung.

According to the CEOC, 279 emergency camps have been set up to house 1,232 people displaced by the typhoon.

The center also said that nine seagoing vessels asked Taiwan for assistance during the typhoon, Focus Taiwan reported.

In addition, sporadic showers and even thunderstorms may still occur in eastern and southern Taiwan, with the possibility of sporadic heavy rainfall or even extremely heavy rainfall.

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