Typhoon Gaemi makes landfall in southern China; hits port operations

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Typhoon Gaemi slammed into Fujian province in southern China on the evening of 25 July, bringing heavy rains as it continues to move inland on Friday, with the strong downpour expected to last three days.

At 06:00 local time (22:00 GMT), Gaemi has weakened into a tropical storm and is centered at Yongtai County in Fuzhou City, according to China’s Meteorological Administration (CMA) in its latest update.

Gulei, which is a major chemical production site in Fujian, is not in the direct path of Typhoon Gaemi. No disruptions to production were reported.

According to China’s CCTV state news channel, Gaemi struck Fujian province at 19:50 local time on 25 July and is projected to cause widespread heavy rainfall across the country as it tracks northwest path.

An orange typhoon warning has been issued, the second-highest level in China’s four-tier warning system. The storm is expected to pass through Jiangxi province and continue to move north, gradually weakening in intensity.

Heavy rains and strong winds are expected to batter eastern China from 26 to 27 July, with coastal areas and the East China Sea forecast to experience gale-force winds.

Authorities in Fujian province initiated a mass evacuation, relocating more than 150,000 people from vulnerable areas ahead of Gaemi’s arrival.

Transportation services across the region have been severely disrupted, with train services suspended in parts of Fujian and most flights canceled at Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport.

Schools and offices have also been shuttered in many parts of Fujian province.

The impact of Typhoon Gaemi has extended beyond Fujian, with Zhejiang province experiencing ferry suspensions and flight cancellations.

Guangdong province has also canceled many eastbound train services in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.

PORT OPERATIONS AFFECTED
Numerous ports along China’s eastern seaboard have been closed, ferry services halted, and vessels ordered back to shore, according to crisis management firm Crisis24.

The berthing of chemical and oil vessels in Ningbo is being controlled due to safety or environmental concerns, according to a shipping broker.

There are restrictions in place for vessels mooring in Ningbo, possibly due to congestion or maintenance, the broker said.

Vessels navigating the south channel of Zhangjiagang port must have a freeboard of more than four meters due to shallow water or strong currents, according to the broker.

The north channel of Zhangjiagang was closed due to strong winds that occurred early on 25 July, causing safety concerns or difficulties for navigation, the broker said.

Dense fog was also present in the Dalian area, causing navigation difficulties or reducing visibility, according to the broker.

In Taiwan, the southern port city of Kaohsiung was particularly hard hit by Gaemi, with meteorologists reporting 135 centimeters (53 inches) of rainfall and extensive flooding after it made landfall shortly before midnight on 24 July.

Kaohsiung is home to two major oil refineries belonging to Formosa Petrochemical Corp (FPCC) and CPC Corp that are connected to downstream petrochemical facilities.

There have been no immediate reports of major disruptions to petrochemical production facilities in Kaohsiung.

Meanwhile, operations at the Mailiao port are expected to resume on Friday after a three-day shutdown.

The port is operated by Taiwanese major Formosa Petrochemical Corp (FPCC) which primarily serves the company’s Mailiao refinery and petrochemical complex.

Taiwan’s major petrochemical complexes are in Toufen and Mailiao in the northwest; and Ta-sheh and Linyuan in Kaohsiung City in the south.

Separately, a Philippine-flagged oil tanker carrying 1.4 tonnes of industrial fuel oil sank amid inclement weather on 25 July, prompting fears of an oil spill.

The MT Terra Nova sank near Lamao Point in Limay, Bataan, a province northwest of the capital, Manila, early on 25 July, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Sixteen crew members were rescued and at least one person died, it added.

While the Philippines was spared a direct hit from Gaemi, the storm exacerbated seasonal monsoon rains, leading to extensive flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

Additional reporting by Hwee Hwee Tan and Fanny Zhang