Super Typhoon Gaemi Leaves Over 500 Injured, Paralyzes Taiwan

The Central Emergency Operation Center released its latest statistical data today, indicating that Typhoon Champi—a severe or moderate typhoon—caused severe disasters across Taiwan during its assault on the island. According to the compiled report from the Central Emergency Operation Center, the storm resulted in one tragic fatality and a heavy toll of 527 injuries. Among all casualty cases, the overwhelming majority of the injured were struck by falling objects blown by strong winds while engaging in outdoor activities or moving through the wind and rain, or suffered falls caused by slippery roads and excessive gusts. Fortunately, most of the injured sustained minor cuts and bruises after being sent to hospitals for treatment, though this still placed a certain degree of burden on the emergency medical capacity of medical institutions.

In addition to casualties, the strong gusts and abundant rainfall brought by Typhoon Champi also caused widespread damage across Taiwan. Fallen street trees accounted for the largest number of cases, with many urban thoroughfares and alleys blocked by collapsed roadside trees, which not only affected the daily commutes of citizens but also posed challenges to emergency repair operations. Furthermore, strong winds blew down numerous power and telecommunication facilities, leading to fallen power lines, collapsed utility poles, or malfunctioning transformers in multiple areas, triggering large-scale residential power outages. Basic livelihood infrastructure such as water pipelines was also not spared, with some areas experiencing unstable water supplies or damaged pipelines, severely disrupting the normal living order of the public.

Regarding urban landscapes and buildings, the gale-force winds and torrential rain brought by Typhoon Champi likewise caused significant destruction. Reports emerged successively across Taiwan of commercial advertising signs hanging on the exterior walls of shops failing to withstand the strong winds, falling and smashing onto the ground, and even crushing vehicles parked along roadsides. The corrugated iron roofs of many residential and industrial buildings were also entirely ripped off or blown down by the strong winds, with scattered iron debris dangling precariously in the wind and rain, posing a grave threat to the safety of passing pedestrians and vehicles. At the earliest opportunity when the wind and rain abated, local government disaster response centers and public works units immediately deployed substantial manpower and equipment to carry out emergency removal and reinforcement operations targeting these fallen trees, dropped signboards, and damaged iron sheeting, striving to restore the urban landscape and traffic in the shortest possible time.

Reviewing the patterns of typhoons that have struck Taiwan in recent years, Taiwan holds a unique geographical position, with the summer and autumn seasons frequently witnessing visits from typhoons each year. Faced with extreme weather patterns brought by climate change, the intensity and rainfall of typhoons often exceed historical experience, presenting a stern test for Taiwan's disaster prevention system, the disaster-resistance capacity of its infrastructure, and urban planning. It can be seen from the experience of every windstorm that the destructive power of strong winds on vertical buildings, outdoor signboards, and aging street trees in urban environments should not be underestimated. This also highlights the importance of routinely implementing street tree pruning, comprehensive sign inspections, safety maintenance on the exterior walls of aging buildings, and strengthening infrastructure such as underground power grids, all of which are indispensable critical links in reducing storm damage.

The statistics and reports issued by the Central Emergency Operation Center this time are not only a disaster record, but also represent the activation of cross-ministerial response mechanisms by government departments when facing natural disasters. From the issuance of forecasts by the Central Weather Bureau, the opening of disaster response centers by local governments, and the evacuation of residents from potential hazard zones, to post-disaster repair and recovery work, every link requires close cooperation between central and local governments. As post-disaster recovery work continues to advance, relevant units will prioritize the repair of basic livelihood infrastructure while also conducting subsequent assessments for condolences and subsidies for affected households. Faced with the forces of nature, every time Taiwanese society withstands wind and rain serves as an important opportunity to accumulate disaster prevention resilience and review disaster prevention and rescue policies. (Source of facts: Central News Agency)