Rainfall continues in the northern Philippines, with Typhoon Gemi intensifying the seasonal monsoon, causing flooding in the capital Manila and landslides in the mountains.
In the densely populated capital, rescue workers were deployed across the city on Wednesday to help people evacuate from low-lying homes after heavy downpours turned streets into rivers.
People waded through thigh-deep murky water holding flimsy umbrellas or used boats and shopping carts to get around.
Government offices were closed, classes were suspended and more than 70 domestic and international flights were canceled due to the weather.
“Many areas were flooded, so we deployed rescue workers all over the city. There was a huge number of people asking for help,” said Peachy de Leon, a disaster response official in suburban Manila.
National forecasters said the typhoon swept through the Philippines as it moved toward Taiwan, intensifying the southwest monsoon rains typical for this time of year.
Senior meteorological expert Glaiza Escullar said: “Usually the peak of the rainy season is July and August, and there happens to be a typhoon in the eastern Philippines sea that strengthens the southwest monsoon.”
Escural said it was “not unusual” for more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain to fall in the capital in the past 24 hours.
A landslide in Batangas province, south of Manila, killed a pregnant woman and three children and blocked three main roads in mountainous Benguet province, police and disaster relief officials said on Wednesday.
The death toll from heavy rains across swathes of the country has risen to at least 12 since Tuesday, with tens of thousands taking shelter in evacuation centers.
Taiwan closed schools, suspended its stock market and declared a typhoon holiday on Wednesday as Gemi barreled toward the island, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the northeastern part of the island.
The storm was expected to make landfall in northeastern Taiwan at 10pm (14:00 GMT), with President Lai Ching-te urging everyone to “put safety first” at a morning emergency briefing.
Authorities evacuated more than 2,100 people in precarious living conditions in three northern regions, particularly Hualien, a mountainous area with a high risk of landslides.
Train and ferry services were suspended on Wednesday and more than 250 international flights were cancelled.
