New Delhi:
China has issued an orange alert for Typhoon Megi after it churned into southern China on Wednesday becoming the third typhoon to hit Taiwan in two weeks.
Violent winds and heavy rains have so far claimed four lives, leaving scores of people injured. Thousands were forced to evacuate their homes as the typhoon played havoc with rail and road networks.
At least 167 people were injured, including seven Japanese tourists and a local guide when their bus was bowled over by winds on a highway in central Taiwan, according to the national fire agency.
According to the Central Emergency Operation Centre, over 11,000 people have been evacuated from their homes and nearly 3,000 are in shelters. Over two million households have lost power and more than 35,000 households are without water.
Taipei was also lashed by downpours and winds, bus services and overground metro trains were suspended as some roads were flooded. More than 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with disaster relief from typhoon Megi.
