Business News

Photos: Typhoon Meranti leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan and makes landfall on mainland China

A sturdy umbrella.
A sturdy umbrella.
Image: EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO
By
Quartz
We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Typhoon Meranti hit the south and east coasts of China on Thursday (Sept. 15), after battering Taiwan, including the city of Kaohsiung on the south of the island. According to Taiwanese authorities, the typhoon was the strongest to make landfall on the island in 21 years, packing wind speeds of up to 370 kilometers per hour. The powerful typhoon comes as China and Taiwan celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, with many people planning to travel home to see their families.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV showed the following footage as Meranti hit Fujian province early Thursday:

Meranti left a trail of destruction in Taiwan, where one person died and 38 were injured. The storm is the strongest recorded in the western Pacific since Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines in 2013.

The city of Kaohsiung, population 2.8 million, was hard hit on Thursday.

A rescuer tries to assist a motorist victim as Super Typhoon Meranti lashes Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 14 September 2016.
A rescuer tries to assist a motorist victim as Super Typhoon Meranti lashes Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 14 September 2016.
Image: EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO
Rescuers carry a victim in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Sept. 14.
Rescuers carry a victim in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on Sept. 14.
Image: EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO
A man salvages usable materials from debris after strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Meranti hit Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Sept. 14 2016.
A man salvages usable materials from debris after strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Meranti hit Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Sept. 14 2016.
Image: EPA/RITCHIE B. TONGO

According to Taiwanese television, schools and offices remain closed on Thursday, including on the island of Kinmen:

Photos from Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, showed the destruction in Xiamen, Fujian:

Image for article titled Photos: Typhoon Meranti leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan and makes landfall on mainland China
Image for article titled Photos: Typhoon Meranti leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan and makes landfall on mainland China
Image for article titled Photos: Typhoon Meranti leaves a trail of destruction in Taiwan and makes landfall on mainland China

The storm will move across inland Fujian and further weaken today.