With an equivalent strength of a Category 3 hurricane, Typhoon Malakas wreaked havoc on Taiwan last Sunday causing more than a hundred flights to be cancelled and resulting to a power disruption to no less than 6,600 households on its way out to Japan.
The typhoon greatly damaged the northern part of Taiwan, CNN has reported. It has sustained winds of 124 miles per hour and has caused heavy rainfall.
The Central Weather Bureau sent out a heavy rain advisory, while the Soil and Water Bureau released a mudflow warning. This has prompted many establishments to close business that day. More than 2,700 people were also relocated away from their homes.
In a report issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, cancelled domestic flights reached 143 and 68 for international flights. The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was severely affected, leaving 12,800 passengers stranded.
Train services were likewise suspended as the main line of Southern Taiwan's Alishan Forest Railway were blocked with rocks when landslides took place at the nearby mountainous terrain.
Malakas was the second to hit Taiwan in less than a week as Meranti also soaked the area only three days ago. Both powerful typhoons also devastated China, leaving 28 people dead, 15 missing and damaging at least 18,300 houses.
Last Monday evening, Typhoon Malakas was spotted at the south-west part of Sasebo in Japan. Hours later, it made a landfall on Kyushu Island, Al Jazeera has reported.
The typhoon's high winds was recorded at 180 kilometers per hour by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The country also experienced torrential rain, heavy floods, and transport and power disturbances.
Air, road and railway transport were greatly disturbed. Commercial flights, 32 form Japan Airlines and 52 from All Nippon Airways, had to be stopped.
Rescued from their homes were six people, still with no reports of death nor injury as of this time.
There will still be rainfall in Japan until Wednesday, although it is expected that Typhoon Malakas (a name contributed by the Philippines, literally meaning "strong" in the Filipino language) will eventually weaken.
