Gaemi weakens, brings rain to central China

Tropical storm Gaemi brought rain to central China as it moved inland yesterday after making landfall at typhoon strength on the country’s east coast last Thursday night.

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The storm felled trees, flooded streets and damaged crops in China, but there were no reports of casualties or major damage.

Eight people died in Taiwan, which Gaemi crossed at typhoon strength before heading over open waters to China.

The worst loss of life, however, was in a country that Gaemi earlier passed by but did not strike directly: the Philippines. A steadily climbing death toll has reached 34, authorities there said last Friday.

The typhoon exacerbated seasonal monsoon rains in the Southeast Asian country, causing landslides and severe flooding that stranded people on rooftops as waters rose around them.