Saola weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm by late afternoon, but its slow movement and continuing heavy rains raised the prospect of devastating flooding in areas that have absorbed more than 58 inches of rain since Tuesday.

It has caused five deaths and left two people missing in Taiwan after killing more than two dozen in the Philippines.

In the northeastern county of Ilan, rescuers used rubber boats and amphibious vehicles to help hundreds escape flooded homes.

Dozens of flights were canceled at Taipei's main international airport, where heavy winds destroyed two jetways, and rail transport throughout the island was disrupted. All seven major reservoirs in Taiwan released large quantities of water to prevent flooding.

By nighttime, Saola was centered just off northern Taiwan, moving northwest toward China at 10 m.p.h. It had sustained winds of 54 m.p.h., gusting to 71 m.p.h.

Offices and businesses were closed throughout northern Taiwan. In Taipei, normally busy streets were deserted except for cleanup crews clearing off fallen trees and branches. The Defense Ministry mobilized 48,000 soldiers to help mitigate the storm's impact.

Television footage showed acre upon acre of flooded farmland in low-lying coastal areas, punctuated by scenes of raging rivers and roads blocked by mudslides in the island's mountainous center.

The typhoon left at least 26 people dead in the Philippines and forced 180,000 to flee their homes. Coast guard and other disaster-response groups rescued 125 people from stricken sea vessels and flooded villages, according to Benito Ramos, who heads the government's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Saola was forecast to hit China's east coast Friday morning south of Typhoon Damrey, which made landfall Thursday night in Jiangsu province. It had sustained winds of 75 m.p.h. and was moving northwest at 19 m.p.h. and was expected to weaken steadily.

Coastal provinces were moving residents to safety in anticipation of flooding from both storms, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Earth Changes Media


Mitch Battros | 



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