Typhoon Aere Hits Taipei; South China on High Alert

Even as Typhoon Aere continued to ravage Northern Taiwan and the capital Taipei with 84 mph (140km/h) winds and heavy rains, authorities on the Chinese mainland were preparing for the storm’s arrival.

Aere has reportedly been responsible for the deaths of 5 Taiwanese fishermen, who are reported missing, and two children in Japan, who were swept away in heavy seas. The storm is the most powerful to hit the island this year.

The BBC reported that it had already dropped a meter and a half of rain (approximately 58 inches) in the mountains around Taipei, causing flooding and numerous mudslides. So far there have been no reports of casualties on the island, and no estimates of the damages.

Authorities in Southeastern China fear Typhoon Aere is headed their way, and have evacuated some 250,000 people from along the region’s coastline. They’ve also called fishing boats into port. A typhoon, which struck the region earlier this month, caused the deaths of 164 people, mainly from flooding and mudslides.