Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in southern Kaohsiung city into rivers, with some households flooded by rainwater. Schools and offices were closed in several cities for a second day, with the stock market suspended and thousands of people evacuated.

Gaemi also exacerbated seasonal rains in the Philippines on its path to Taiwan, triggering flooding and landslides that killed 20 people. A tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil sank off Manila on Thursday, with authorities racing to contain a spill.

The storm had weakened by Thursday morning and "the center has moved out to sea" at around 4:20 am (2020 GMT), Taiwan's weather authorities said.

Taiwan's fire agency said it received a report early Thursday that a cargo ship had sunk off the island's southwestern coast, forcing its nine Myanmar crew members to abandon ship in life jackets.

"They fell into the sea and were floating there," said Hsiao Huan-chang, head of the fire agency.

Hsiao did not specify when the Tanzania-flagged ship sank but adverse weather conditions hindered the search, which had been going on since 3:30 pm (0730 GMT) with rescue aircraft.

Taiwan's Coast Guard later issued a statement saying that two foreigners claiming to be crew members were brought to a police station in the late afternoon.