Typhoon slams Taiwan and Japan

Dujuan lashed Taiwan and the southwestern Japanese islands Monday, cutting off access to water and electricity for thousands of families. Twenty-four people were reported injured in Taiwan, AFP reported. The typhoon, which according to the Japan Meteorogical Agency has maximum sustained winds of 180 kph and gusts of 252 kph, is expected to head toward China next.

The typhoon hit Japan and Taiwan late Monday. Around 6 p.m. (0900 UTC), the eye of the storm reached Japan's Yonaguni island, where hundreds had already evacuated their homes.

Heading westward, the storm then lashed Taiwan, forcing authorities to stop rail services and delay hundreds of domestic and international flights. More than 1.2 million families were left without power at the height of the storm, while at least 113,500 were without access to tap water, according to Taiwan Power Company.

"To be honest, we all feel very depressed. Any damage may further prolong the time needed for reconstruction," Chou Chih-kang, a local official in the town of Wulai, told AFP. The town, located outside Taipei, had been battered by another typhoon in August.

Taiwan's weather bureau graded Dujuan, the season's 21st typhoon, as a strong typhoon. The storm is expected to lose strength by Tuesday, according to observers.

"It picked up speed in the past few hours, but will slow somewhat after hitting the mountains in the east," an official from Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said.

Regardless, China has issued its highest alert as the storm heads its way. Authorities expect Dujuan to hit the mainland Tuesday.

In preparation for the typhoon, Taiwanese authorities evacuated more than 7,000 residents, while more than 24,000 troops were on standby for disaster relief operations. In Taipei, 100 emergency centers and shelters were set up for those forced to leave their homes.

blc/kms (AFP, Reuters, dpa)