Super Typhoon Nepartak made landfall on the east coast of Taiwan on 8 July morning at roughly 5.50am, wreaking havoc and forcing thousands from their homes. School and work was cancelled for the day across the island as wind gusts of 234km/hr (145mph) were reported in the region.
According to Taiwans Central News Agency, at least 69 people have been injured in Taitung in southeast Taiwan. Most of them are believed to have sustained injuries to their head and limbs after being cut by falling glass. Three other injuries were reported in other parts of the country, one in Yilan and two in Tainan.
A resident of Taitung told Reuters: The wind is very strong. Many hut roofs and signs on the street have been blown off.
At least 15,400 people had been evacuated from their homes in preparation for the storm, while nearly 250,000 homes have been left without power. Taiwan has classified the Nepartak as a category 5 typhoon, the highest ranking which makes it a super typhoon.
One day before Super Typhoon Nepartak hit the country, two fatalities were reported as winds became stronger. According to the Central News Agency, one of the victims was a soldie fishing off the coast of Dongyin Islet when the strong winds washed him out to sea. The body was recovered on the morning of 8 July.
On 7 July a man was believed to have drowned near Chihsingtan Beach, a popular tourist attraction in the eastern county of Haulien. Local media reported that he was airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The storm spans across a length of 200km (125m) and is moving north-west at a speed of 17km/hr. It is believed to make landfall in China by the morning of 9 July, however, it is expected to have weakened to a tropical storm by then.
