A cargo ship sank in Taiwan after deadly Typhoon Gaemi swept across the autonomous island overnight, authorities said Thursday.
Nine crew members from Myanmar are missing after the Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship Fu-Shun sank off the coast of Kaohsiung Port, Taiwan’s Central Emergency Operation Center said.
According to the center, authorities are waiting for better weather conditions to continue their search.
Accidents in Taiwan involving Gaemi have killed two people and injured at least 279.
Television images showed destroyed roads, vehicles damaged by fallen trees and widespread flooding.
On Thursday morning, some 87,000 households remained without electricity, while offices and schools remained closed across the island. Taiwan’s stock market also remained closed, marking a rare second day without trading.
More than 400 international and domestic flights were cancelled and some train services were suspended.
Officials from Taiwan’s Central Weather Service (CWA) reported Thursday morning that the typhoon has weakened, but said residents in southern and central Taiwan should remain alert for flooding due to heavy rains in the coming days.
The center of the storm made landfall in Yilan, eastern Taiwan around midnight on Wednesday and moved into the Taiwan Strait early Thursday morning.
Gaemi is expected to move westward and approach the coast of Fujian, China in the evening.
