Typhoon leaves one dead in Taiwan

Updated July 29, 2008 10:58:10

The typhoon made landfall on Taiwan's east coast, sparking flash floods in some areas and leaving more than 150,000 homes without power. [AFP]

Typhoon Fung-wong has hit Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rains that left one man dead, forced schools to shut down across the island and disrupted air travel.

The typhoon made landfall on Taiwan's east coast, sparking flash floods in some areas and leaving more than 150,000 homes without power.

Dozens of flights were cancelled, rail service was suspended and businesses closed, as winds of up to 126 kilometres per hour whipped the island as the storm headed towards China.

Taiwan's power company cut supply to more than 150,000 households island-wide, and that fierce winds forced the company to curtail the operation of two generators at a nuclear plant in the north.

President Ma Ying-jeou urged residents to maintain a high level of vigilance because of the danger of floods and mudslides.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from eastern coastal villages before the storm made landfall, and thousands of fishing boats were ordered to return to port.

After crossing the Taiwan Strait, the eye of the typhoon made landfall at Fuqing city in southeast China's Fujian province.