DHAKA: Typhoon Malakas caused widespread disruption across Taiwan as it gave a glancing blow to the island. But the worst of the weather remained offshore as the eye of the storm passed about 130km to the east of Taipei.

As Malakas passed, sustained winds at the centre of the storm were around 200 kilometers an hour, equivalent to a strong Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale used to measure Atlantic hurricanes.

On the mainland, those winds were nearer to 100km/h, which was strong enough to cause widespread disruption across much of northern Taiwan.  
    
Flights and train services were suspended and more than 2,700 people had to be evacuated from their homes.

Businesses were ordered to close across the northeast throughout the weekend, as violent winds accompanied by torrential rains battered the island.

Mudflow alerts were issued by the Soil and Water Conservation Bureau and at least 6,600 households were left without power.

The storm is now moving northeast towards Japan. The east coast of China is braced for heavy rain at times, but fears are greater still across the East China Sea.

Malakas is gathering forward momentum and will weaken as it heads towards Kyushu at some time on Tuesday (September 20).

By that time it will barely be a typhoon, but it is expected to bring further heavy rain to the already saturated ground across much of southern Japan, and a prolonged spell of flooding is expected.

Source: Al Jazeera

BDST: 2011 HRS, SEP 20, 2016
NJ/BD