Connect with us

Foreign

Taiwan shuts down as Typhoon Gaemi approaches

Published

on

By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island, bringing torrential rains and whipping winds to its northeast.

Typhoon Gaemi, packing sustained wind speeds of 190 kilometres (118 miles) per hour, also affected Japan and the Philippines — which announced government offices would close for the day.

Advertisement

It is expected to make landfall in northeast Taiwan by 10 pm (1400 GMT), and President Lai Ching-te urged everyone to “put safety first” during a morning emergency briefing.

“Gaemi is this year’s first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan,” Lai said.

“I hope that through our joint efforts, impact from the typhoon can be minimised… I also encourage fellow citizens across the country not to go out unless necessary during the typhoon, especially not to dangerous places.”

The weather forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games — which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion — but an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning on Penghu island, west of Taiwan.

Advertisement

Authorities evacuated more than 4,000 people living in precarious conditions in the northern regions, particularly Hualien — a mountainous area with high risk of landslides.

By afternoon, authorities said nearly 60 people were injured across the island from the typhoon’s impact.

Trains and ferry services were suspended and hundreds of international and domestic flights cancelled on Wednesday.

“We expect that the impact of the typhoon will be extended to four days (until Friday),” said Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration chief Cheng Jia-ping, adding that the public would need to “take precautions against heavy rain and strong wind”.

Advertisement

The typhoon is expected to pass through the Taiwan Strait and hit China by Thursday in the eastern Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, where authorities have issued a red storm alert.

In Taiwan’s northeastern Yilan County, massive waves crashed against the shore, while market vendors worked quickly to protect their stalls with canvas and shops had taped glass windows.

At a harbour crowded with docked vessels, a fisher surnamed Hsu tied down his boat at a typhoon shelter.

“I am worried about the typhoon — the boats are my tool for making money,” he said.

Advertisement

In the capital Taipei, government offices were closed and streets emptied, while some stores sandbagged their entrances to prevent potential floodwater.
Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said it would maintain normal production and the firm “has activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures” at all fabrication plants.

Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October, but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts.

In neighbouring Japan, authorities of a southern island region of Okinawa urged residents to “exercise strong vigilance” against storms, high waves and floods.

In the Philippines, meanwhile, heavy downpours in Manila triggered widespread flooding and a landslide in a nearby mountainous province killed four people.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Foreign

Fear of impeachment: Kenya’s DP hospitalised-Lawyer

Published

on

The motion to impeach Gachagua will be debated on Tuesday next week, at which point the House will vote to either support or reject it.

Public participation for the impeachment motion against President William Ruto’s deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, is scheduled to take place across the 47 counties on Friday.

According to Capital News, this follows Speaker Moses Wetangula’s announcement that the House will adjourn from 12 pm to 2 pm on Wednesday to discuss the details of the public participation exercise.

The motion to impeach Gachagua will be debated on Tuesday next week, at which point the House will vote to either support or reject it.

Advertisement

Wetangula has confirmed that Deputy President Gachagua can defend himself either personally or through legal counsel.

“It would be absurd for any motion to be concluded without public involvement. Court decisions have also emphasized this direction. Public participation is integral to such removals,” the Speaker stated.

To facilitate this process, the House will adjourn its sessions on Thursday afternoon, allowing lawmakers to engage with their constituents.

“The public participation will occur across the 47 counties, and the House will reconvene tomorrow to allow legal counsel to explain the modalities,” Wetangula added.

Advertisement

The impeachment motion against Gachagua was formally introduced in Parliament by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who has leveled over ten accusations against him, including constitutional breaches, corruption, and incitement.

Mutuse reported that he has gathered the support of 291 MPs, exceeding the required 117 signatures to meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment.

“I want to make it clear to this House and to Kenyans that I hold no malice or personal vendetta against the Deputy President. I am simply fulfilling my duty as a citizen and Member of Parliament,” Mutuse stated during the session.

The motion outlines nine charges against Gachagua, including gross constitutional violations and promoting ethnic discrimination, alongside undermining national unity through divisive public statements.

Advertisement

Gachagua is also accused of undermining government policies and failing to uphold his duties as Deputy President regarding collective Cabinet responsibility. Mutuse, defending his position, claimed to have nine witnesses prepared to provide evidence for each charge.

“If the people can’t receive services because of Gachagua, we believe it’s necessary to remove him for the sake of Kenyans,” he asserted.

In addition to the constitutional violations, the motion alleges Gachagua engaged in corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office, thereby eroding public trust and contravening anti-corruption laws.

“Engaging in corruption and money laundering while in office undermines public trust and violates the law,” Mutuse concluded.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Foreign

Just in: Finally DNA test confirms death of Hamas leader

Published

on

Preliminary DNA results are confirming the death of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar in an Israeli strike.

United States officials have confirmed the death of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar following DNA test results, CNN has reported.

The test results were relayed to the White House by Israeli officials who according to the report are waiting for one final report to give a statement of confirmation on the death of Sinwar.

GWG.ng reports that Sinwar was reportedly killed during an accidental fire fight in Gaza. The Israeli fighters it was gathered did not act on intelligence as the encounter was simply an accident.

Advertisement

The death of Sinwar is bound to echo throughout the Middle East given his role as the architect of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the death of more than 1,200 Israelis.

It was gathered that while the killing of Sinwar has befuddled much of the people in Gaza, celebration is breaking out in Israel over the development as the people of the country rejoice over the fall of the man who organised the worst mass killing of Israelis since the Holocaust.

Meanwhile, GWG.ng reports US officials and other international stakeholders as saying that the killing of Sinwar could help rejuvenate the Middle East peace process given the fact that the late Hamas leader was seen as a major obstacle to regional peace.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Foreign

Ukraine alleges N’Korea is sending troops to Russia

Published

on

He was speaking days after visiting several European capitals to press his case for more military and financial help in the war against invading Russian forces.

“We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea,” Zelensky said in his evening address.

“It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.

“Obviously, in such circumstances, our relations with our partners need to be developed. The frontline needs more support,” he said.

Advertisement

Zelensky completed a whirlwind two-day tour of European capitals last week including Berlin, London and Paris to ask for sustained military aid as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds on through its third year.

“When we talk about more long-range capability for Ukraine and more decisive supplies for our forces, it is not just a list of military equipment,” Zelensky said.

“It is about increasing the pressure on the aggressor, which will be stronger for Russia than they can withstand. And it is about preventing a bigger war.”

AFP.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News