Taipei: Typhoon Jangmi lashed Taiwan with torrential rains and powerful winds, causing widespread flooding, shutting down offices and forcing the cancellation of international flights.

Jangmi the fourth and most powerful typhoon to hit the island this year made landfall in Ilan county in northeastern Taiwan at mid afternoon yesterday, the Central Weather Bureau said. Power was cut to 86,000 households as the area was hit by gusts of up to 227 kilometers per hour, the highest level the bureau's equipment can measure, it said.

ETTV Cable News reported the strong winds overturned a bus on a highway in Ilan, injuring three passengers. The usually bustling capital of Taipei was eerily quiet with only a few cars on streets buffeted by the stormy weather. Trees were uprooted and building scaffolding blown off.

The Disaster Relief Center said dozens of villagers were evacuated from the scenic mountain resort of Lushan in central Taiwan, where all 20 hotels were ordered closed.

The area was badly damaged when Typhoon Sinlaku hit two weeks ago, with massive mudslides destroying at least three hotels. Hundreds of fishing boats sheltered at ports, and domestic flights and rail services were canceled, television stations reported.

Taiwan's China Airlines and EVA Airways said several flights to Asia were canceled or rescheduled for Monday. China's Southern and Hainan Airlines canceled their flights to the island from Beijing and Shanghai.

Source : PTI