Twin sisters feared among six dead as Typhoon Soudelor hits Taiwan

A typhoon has hit Taiwan killing at least six people and injuring more than 100 others. Four people are also missing after Typhoon Soudelor brought torrential rain and strong winds of up to 100mph when it slammed into the eastern side of the island. Power lines, traffic lights and trees have been brought down, and more than three million households are without electricity. An eight-year-girl and her mother died when they were swept out to sea from a beach, the government’s Central News Agency said. The girl’s twin sister is among the missing.

I’ve never seen such a powerful typhoon in my 60 years.

One resident on Taiwan TV

Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau warned that mountain areas should be on alert for landslides and low-lying areas for flooding. South-east China is now on high alert for the powerful storm which is forecast to hit Fujian province tonight. Chinese authorities have ordered the evacuation of about 158,000 people and ships back to port ahead of the typhoon. Soudelour has drawn comparisons with 2009’s Typhoon Morakot, which cut a wide path of destruction over southern Taiwan.

World typhoon