Taiwan Grounds Flights as it Braces for Typhoon Gaemi

Taipei, 24 Jul (ONA) --- Taiwan is bracing for the arrival of powerful Typhoon Gaemi, which is expected to make landfall on the island's North East coast later today.

The storm - the first typhoon of the season to affect the island - has led to the cancellation of parts of its largest annual military drills.

Almost all domestic flights have been cancelled, along with more than 200 international flights, according to the transport ministry, BBC news reported.

On its way to Taiwan, Gaemi also brought relentless rains to large swathes of the Philippines, with floods turning streets into rivers in the capital Manila.

The typhoon is seeing winds of up to 240kmh (150 mph), the equivalent of a high category 4 hurricane in terms of wind strength and destructive potential.

The government has declared a typhoon day, suspending work and classes across the island except for the Kinmen islands.

--- Ends/Khalid