In China: 28 die from typhoon as new storm looms

Typhoon Malakas, which has already begun to affect Taiwan, was expected to dump further heavy rain on parts of the island today, local media reported.

China’s National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center advised the ships to stay out of those areas as waves as high as 3.8 metres are expected in the coastal provinces.

Moreover, CNMEFC maintained an orange warning for ocean waves caused by Malakas as it is expected to whip up waves from seven to 11 meters off Taiwan’s east coast, southern East China Sea and nearby Diaoyu Islands from Friday to Saturday. However, no damage or casualties have been reported yet.

Typhoon Malakas comes hot on the heels of Typhoon Meranti, which has left at least 28 people dead and another 15 missing in eastern regions of China since it landed in Fujian Thursday morning. If the typhoon continues on its anticipated course, Taiwan proper will be out of its storm circle by early Sunday, predicted CWB senior technical specialist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華). Four cargo flights were also cancelled. Schools and other institutions remained closed due to the typhoon.

As of 8:30 p.m. Friday, Malakas was centered some 270 kilometers east of Hengchun Township in the southernmost part of Taiwan, moving at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour in a north-northwesterly direction, bureau data showed.

The storm, which earlier killed one person and injured several in Taiwan, claimed three lives and left four people missing in China’s Fujian province as of Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of people were evacuated and almost 200,000 households were without power across the island nation.

Taoyuan Airport Corp, the company that runs Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, said that 68 flights were disrupted by the typhoon, affecting about 12,800 passengers.

Typhoons are common at this time of year, picking up strength as they cross warm Pacific waters, and bringing fierce winds and rain when they reach land.