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Markets, work suspended as Hurricane Gaemi barrels towards Taiwan

Monetary markets will close and people provided the day off work as Typhoon Gaemi barrelled towards Taiwan on Tuesday bringing strong winds and torrential rain, with the annual Han Kuang dry run reduced and emergency situation devices prepared.

Gaemi, the very first tropical storm of the season to impact Taiwan, is anticipated to make landfall on the northeast coast early evening on Wednesday, according to the island's Central Weather condition Administration.

Currently categorised as a medium-strength tropical storm by Taiwan, it is then likely to cross the Taiwan Strait and then hit the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian on Friday.

Capital Taipei, in addition to the neighbouring cities of New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan, will close schools and provide individuals the day of rest on Wednesday, with the monetary markets also closed.

Tomorrow, please remain at home, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an wrote on his Facebook page. Gaemi, the very first tropical storm to make landfall this year, continues to strengthen.

However, TSMC, the world's biggest agreement chipmaker, stated it anticipated all its factories would maintain typical production during the tropical storm, adding it had activated routine preparation treatments.

Some mountainous main and southern Taiwan counties are anticipated to see total rains of up to 1,800 mm (70 inches). throughout the typhoon, the weather administration stated.

The government put more than 1,000 rubber boats on standby. for possible flooding across the island, which will see the. storm coincide with the yearly high tides, and rushed emergency. food, water and communications devices to remote locations.

Taiwan's yearly Han Kuang military drills occurring this. week have actually been cut, including cancelling fighter jet. exercises on the east coast, the defence ministry stated.

The impact from the hurricane at present on the east coast is. rather obvious, ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang told press reporters. at the Hualien air base. So we will change some of the air and. marine components given the hurricane scenario.

Mandarin Airlines and Daily Air cancelled all domestic. flights for Wednesday, while Eva Air revealed at. least 12 global flights were cancelled for the exact same day.

Gaemi passed by to the east of the Philippines but did not. make landfall, though still brought heavy rain.

While tropical cyclones can be extremely damaging, Taiwan also relies. on them to replenish reservoirs after the traditionally drier. cold weather, particularly for the southern part of the island.

(source: Reuters)