Saturday, August 8, 2015

Typhoon Soudelor drenches Taiwan, churns on toward China

Typhoon Soudelor pounded Taiwan with fierce winds and torrential rain Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring at least 185, according to Taiwan's National Fire Agency.
Another four people remained missing as of 7 p.m. local time, said the agency, which is part of the Interior Ministry.
Those killed included a mother and her 8-year-old daughter swept out to sea, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported, adding that the girl's twin sister is unaccounted for.
While the island continues to be drenched by heavy rains, the worst of the winds have passed and Soudelor is now churning across the sea toward mainland China.
It is forecast to weaken by the time it makes landfall in China's Fujian province late Saturday, but is still predicted to pack hurricane-strength winds.
Soudelor made landfall in Taiwan north of the city of Hualien. Forecasters had predicted the storm would have maximum sustained winds at landfall of about 125 mph (200 kph) -- the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane.

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