Uniformed soldiers were also seen on beaches filing sandbags to be sent to low-lying areas in anticipation of the storm, which forced hundreds to evacuated and is expected to make landfall around 5:00 am Friday (2100 GMT Thursday), according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau.
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Typhoons used to kill many people in China but the government now enforces evacuations and takes precautions well in advance, which has helped save many lives.
As of this morning, Super Typhoon Nepartak had maximum sustained wind speeds of 161 miles per hour (140 knots), with gusts up to 196 miles per hour (170 knots), according to an update from the US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JWTC).
Meanwhile, China renewed an orange alert for extreme weather – the second most severe in its weather warning system – as the typhoon was expected to strike coastal regions of southeastern Fujian Province and Zhejiang to the north early Saturday.
As many as 97,000 households lost power due to the storm, with more than 70,000 still without electricity as of Friday morning. The island’s railway services were suspended, while more than 600 domestic and worldwide flights were cancelled and a further 178 flights delayed.
Taiwanese authorities reported that more than 15,400 people have been evacuated from 14 counties and cities.
Men watch waves crash at the coast as Typhoon Nepartak approaches in Yilan, Taiwan July 7, 2016. (EBC via AP Video) Filipino rescuers ferry residents on a rubber boat along a flooded road in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines, as monsoon downpours intensify while Typhoon Nepartak exits the country on Friday, July 8, 2016.
At least 66 people in eastern Taiwan were hit by falling trees or injured by glass, said Li Wei-sen, an official of the centre.
“It is expected the strength of this typhoon will continue to weaken and slow down in speed”, the weather bureau said.
In the face of a storm of such jaw-dropping power, Taiwan is bracing for disaster.
“Yes, I am anxious about it, same as everyone here”, said fisherman Chen Chun-po.
On Thursday, Cathay Pacific announced the airline would be suspending all flight operations in Taiwan from 6 p.m. Thursday, local time, until Friday afternoon – all flights between those times were canceled.
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A National University of Taiwan buoy recorded a pressure low of 897 millibars in the eye of Nepartak late on Thursday night, local time.
