With torrential rains, and the strongest winds of the century, the super-typhoon Nepartak, first of the season, touched ground this Friday in Taiwan and prompted the evacuation of more than 15,000, the cancelation of departures and arrivals to the country, and closing of schools.
Nepartak arrived to Taimali, part of the country of Taitung, a little bit before 6:00 a.m. (local time), with gusts of wind reaching up to 234 km/hour, the strongest since 1901 when there was a similar storm.
A soldier who fell into the river, in front of the island of Dongyin, was found dead this Friday.
Yesterday evening a man died after suffocating in front of a beach in Hualien, on the East of Island, according to what local authorities report. They have also reported over 66 injuries, the majority due to objects flying through the air.
3,700 of the evacuated people had to be moved to hostels as a temporary form of accomadation. The government announced that the financial markets, schools, offices, and businesses would remain closed.
The majority of incoming flights were canceled, according to airport authorities. More than 365 international flights have been affected so far.