Debris and damaged buildings are seen a day after heavy rains from Typhoon Gaemi hit Manila, on July 25. - AFP
SINGAPORE: Multiple flights between Singapore and cities affected by Typhoon Gaemi have been cancelled or rescheduled on Thursday (July 25), as the powerful typhoon heads towards southern China after sweeping past the Philippines and Taiwan on July 24.
According to Changi Airport’s website, two Xiamen Airlines flights between Singapore and Fuzhou on July 25 were cancelled.
Fuzhou is the capital of Fujian province in south-eastern China, which has suspended train services and put in place the second-highest flood warning alert level in anticipation of Gaemi’s arrival.
Gaemi is expected to dump torrential rain over vast swathes of China from July 25. China’s Water Resources Ministry said the rain is expected to last until July 31.
The typhoon wreaked havoc in the Philippine capital of Manila and surrounding provinces on July 24, drowning streets, homes, schools and hospitals in up to chest-deep floodwaters and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate to temporary shelters. Police said on July 25 that the typhoon left at least 20 people dead.
Philippine low-cost airline Cebu Pacific cancelled its flights between Manila and Singapore as well as other cities on July 25.
On its website, Cebu Pacific said it is actively managing the situation despite the operational and manpower challenges.
“The relentless rains have affected many of our employees and airport staff, and measures are being taken to provide necessary aid and assistance to them,” the airline said.
Just before midnight on July 24, Gaemi made landfall in Yilan county on the north-eastern coast of Taiwan. It was the strongest typhoon to hit the island in eight years, said Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration.
Two Singapore Airlines (SIA) flights between Singapore and Taipei on July 25 were retimed.
Budget carrier Scoot cancelled its TR897 flight scheduled to depart Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport for Changi Airport at 1.30am on July 25. Four other flights to and fro Taiwan on the same day were also delayed.
“Scoot has contacted affected customers to re-accommodate them onto alternative flights, where available. Affected customers may also request a full refund if they choose not to continue with their travel,” a Scoot spokesperson told The Straits Times.
Three Eva Air flights between Singapore and Taipei on July 25 were cancelled while two China Airlines flights arriving from Taipei and Kaohsiung on July 25 were retimed, according to Changi Airport’s website.
At least two fatalities were reported in Taiwan. A motorist in southern Kaohsiung city was crushed by a tree and a woman in eastern Hualien died after part of a building fell on her, reported AFP.
More than 200 people were injured in the storm.
Gaemi also sank a cargo ship early on July 25, forcing its nine Myanmar crew members to abandon ship in life jackets, before barrelling west across the Taiwan Strait towards China. - The Straits Times/ANN
