Two dead after massive typhoon hits Taiwan

Dujuan was categorised as a “super typhoon” by regional forecasters, taking residents by surprise as it sped up before reaching land late on Monday in the eastern county of Yilan.

Dujuan battered Taiwan leaving 24 injured as torrential rain and fierce winds hit Monday evening.

Nearly half one million individuals are nonetheless with out electrical energy in Taiwan because the storm left a path of destruction in the north of the island.

The typhoon-induced storm coincided with an astronomical high tide, causing the seawater to backflow and flood streets in some coastal areas and low-lying parts of Xiamen.

New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu said they were from vulnerable areas, including the hot spring town of Wulai, just outside Taipei.

It was downgraded to a “average typhoon” by Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau because it crossed the island.

“In areas that could become isolated during the typhoon, sufficient rescue and communications equipment will be deployed in advance”.

Taiwan’s aboriginal mountain communities are notably in danger throughout typhoons, typically affected by flooding and mudslides.

It was the newest hit for Wulai which was severely broken by flooding and landslides in August when Typhoon Soudelor hit, with some residents unable to return residence for weeks.

“To be honest, we all feel very depressed”. 89 bullet trains in Xiamen have been suspended.

Nearly 3,000 people were put in temporary shelters. Dujuan is moving northwest at 18 kilometers an hour toward China’s Fujian province.

Performances by United States rock band Bon Jovi, due to take place in Taipei Monday and Tuesday, were cancelled.

Ferry services and flights to outlying islands have already been suspended.

Japan’s meteorological agency has warned it could trigger waves 13 metres high. There are reports of damage being inflicted to the landmark Taipei 101.

Mid-Autumn Festival holidaymakers got a dampener after 90 flights were canceled or delayed between Hong Kong and Taiwan, which was pounded by super typhoon Dujuan.

Soudelor, the most powerful storm of the season so far, killed at least eight people in Taiwan and a further 21 in China.

Preparations were under way on mainland China for the storm, which made landfall in Fujian Province early Tuesday, the Xinhua news agency reported.