Typhoon Haikui leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan, over 40 injured

Typhoon Haikui in Taiwan has left behind uprooted trees, debris and halted transport along with more than 40 injured people. While no deaths have been reported so far, strong winds have already done infrastructural damage.

More than 7,000 people were evacuated from mountainous regions as the threat of landslides and flooding loomed over southern Taiwan.

Strong winds of 200 kilometres per hour were reported, resulting in a major power outage and suspension of transport services.

The storm made landfall in Taitung County on the Pacific-facing east coast around 3 PM on Sunday.

About 75,000 homes temporarily lost power in Taitung and Hualien counties along the east coast, and a guesthouse collapsed on Green Island just off the coast.

Haiku is now making its way to China’s southern coast via the Taiwan Strait after weakening into a tropical storm. It has now been named Typhoon Saola, news agency Associated Press reported.

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In recent months, China has experienced some of its heaviest rains and deadliest flooding in years. Dozens of people have been killed, including in outlying mountainous parts of the capital, Beijing.

(With AP inputs)