Taiwan's meteorological officials have asked locals to brace for typhoon Malakas, which is expected on Saturday, Reuters reported. Earlier this week, super typhoon Meranti has claimed the lives of at least 10 people in China, Beijing authorities said on Friday, while one person has been reported killed and 38 injured in Taiwan.
Storms are a common occurrence in September and they gain momentum after passing over the warm Pacific Ocean. Although the super typhoon reduced in strength on Friday, Taiwan’s weather officials have cautioned people about flooding and severe weather in several areas once Malakas makes a landfall.
Rescue and relief operations are under way as 3,30,000 people are returning home after being forced to flee the storm. China’s state news agency, Xinhua, said Meranti was the strongest storm to hit China’s coast since 1949.
Images of crushed cars and inundated roads in Xiamen province have been released by the state media. A 871-year-old bridge, a protected heritage site in Yongchun county, was battered by the storm, AFP quoted Xinhua in its report. More than 3.2 million homes in Xiamen suffered loss of power and water supply during the storm, officials reported. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in the region also took a hit as airlines cancelled several flights and train services were disrupted.
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