After slamming the Philippines, typhoon Meranti is now showing its force to Taiwan.
Typhoon Meranti as the strongest typhoon this year is slamming parts of Taiwan, after it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.
According to reports of the local media in Taiwan, many parts of Taiwan are experiencing power blackout on Wednesday, Sept. 14, after it knocked out power for more than 180,000 households in the country.
Four people have been recorded injured across southern Taiwan, according to the Taiwan Red Cross.
Although super typhoon Meranti did not make landfall in the mainland Taiwan, the storm brought record strong winds and torrential rains to eastern and southern part of the country.
At 0215 GMT (10.15am, Singapore time), Meranti was seen at 30km southwest of southernmost Hengchun township. It brings the gusts of up to 263kmh.
According to the weather bureau, the storm is expected to dump as much as 800mm of rain in mountainous areas, potentially triggering landslides.
According to the Central Emergency Operation Center, early Wednesday, close to 1,500 people have been evacuated from at-risk areas, with about half in temporary shelters.
Typhoon Meranti was moving northwest into the Taiwan Strait at the speed of 18kmh.
According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, Hengchun’s observation station recorded the strongest winds in its 120 year history of Taiwan earlier Wednesday.
“Meranti will have its most significant impact on Taiwan today,” said forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun.
Television footage showed flooded streets in some parts of the country and violent winds slammed southern Kenting, a tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches.
Due to this, school and work were cancelled for most eastern and southern counties while trains running along the east coast have been halted — affecting travel for the Mid-Autumn Festival long weekend which starts Thursday.
Another storm brewing east of the Philippines, with local name Gener, may also affect Taiwan later this week.
The weather bureau’s Hsieh said tropical storm Malakas was expected to be closest to the island on Friday and Saturday, but was unlikely to make landfall.
Due to the effects of the typhoon, almost 4,000 military and police personnel have been deployed to the region to prepare for potential future evacuations, but the bureau said authorities are not expecting major damage or destruction from the bad weather condition.