Typhoon Gaemi causes multi-million dollar losses in Asia

Economic losses range from $220m to $245m.

The total losses from Typhoon Gaemi are expected to reach the hundreds of millions of dollars, Aon forecasts. Typhoon Gaemi’s remnants, combined with a southwest monsoon, triggered severe flooding and landslides across southeast China, particularly in Hunan province, as well as in the border regions of North Korea and Northeast China. 

Preliminary damage assessments indicate significant economic losses, including $245m in Taiwan and $220m in Fujian province, China, where Gaemi initially made landfall. 

Further assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage in northeast China and North Korea.

After making its second landfall on 25 July, Typhoon Gaemi’s remnants brought multi-day torrential rainfall to southeast China, with Hunan province suffering significant damage. 

The heavy rain resulted in flash flooding and landslides, claiming at least 30 lives and leaving another 35 people missing near Zixing. 

The flooding also caused widespread destruction, with 1,300 roads and 1,400 homes damaged and communication facilities disrupted. Additional landslides in Hengyang and Chenzhou claimed 18 more lives.

Across Hunan, at least 100,000 acres of farmland were inundated, and three river dyke failures occurred along the Juanshui River, leading to the evacuation of over 4,000 residents.

The impacts of the storm extended far beyond Hunan, affecting the border region between North Korea and China. 

Heavy rainfall on 27 to 28 July led to severe flooding in China’s Liaoning and Jilin provinces, and North Korea’s North Phyongan, Ryanggang, and Jagang provinces. 

In Liaoning, two hydrological stations along the Yalu River recorded new water level records. 

The flooding in northeast China forced the evacuation of more than 45,000 people in Liaoning alone, while Jilin officials issued a level 1 emergency response, suspending schools, businesses, and public transportation amid widespread power outages.

In North Korea, floodwaters trapped over 5,000 people in Sinuiju and Uiju County, with rescue operations underway. 

The flooding affected 4,100 homes and submerged more than 7,000 acres of farmland, along with public buildings, roads, and railways. Local authorities have not yet reported any fatalities.

The fatalities in China and North Korea add to the death toll from Typhoon Gaemi, which previously claimed the lives of at least 34 people in the Philippines and 10 in Taiwan.