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Taiwan hunkers down ahead of arrival of Tropical storm Gaemi

Taiwan hunkered down on Wednesday ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Gaemi, with financial markets closed, individuals offered the day off work, flights cancelled and the military put on standby with torrential rain and strong winds anticipate.

Gaemi, the first typhoon of the season to impact Taiwan, is expected to make landfall on the northeast coast early night on Wednesday, according to the island's Central Weather Administration.

Presently categorised as a medium-strength hurricane by Taiwan, it is then most likely to move across the Taiwan Strait and then hit the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian late afternoon Friday.

In rural Yilan county, where the tropical cyclone will initially strike land, heavy rain battered the countryside.

Work and school are suspended across the whole of Taiwan, with the streets of capital Taipei almost deserted during what is usually rush hour in the middle of squally rain.

The transport ministry said almost all domestic flights had been cancelled, together with 27 international flights.

However, TSMC, the world's biggest agreement chipmaker and major Apple supplier, said it expected all its factories would maintain typical production throughout the typhoon, including it had activated regular preparation treatments.

Some mountainous main and southern Taiwan counties are expected to see overall rainfall of approximately 1,800 mm (70 inches). throughout the tropical storm, the weather condition administration said.

Taiwan's defence ministry stated it was prepared to assist with. catastrophe relief and had put its forces on stand-by.

While the hurricane has actually seriously reduced this year's annual. Han Kuang dry run they have not been completely cancelled, with. live fire drills occurring as set up on the Penghu islands. in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday morning.

Gaemi and a southwest monsoon brought heavy rain on. Wednesday to the Philippine capital region and northern. provinces, prompting authorities to halt work and classes, while. stock and forex trading were suspended.

While hurricanes can be extremely damaging, Taiwan also relies. on them to replenish reservoirs after the typically drier. winter season, particularly for the southern part of the island.

(source: Reuters)