Second typhoon batters Fujian, Taiwan; disrupt markets and traffic

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East China’s Fujian and Taiwan were hit by the second storm in 24 hours, leaving injuries and causing major disruptions for markets and flights on the first day of the work week.

Typhoon Haitang landed at 2:50 a.m. local time Monday in the city of Fuqing in Fujian, after making landfall on south and southeast parts of the island region of Taiwan on Sunday.

China weather authority National Meteorological Center issued blue-level warnings for typhoon Haitang. The typhoon is expected to bring a huge rainstorm to the coastal province.

Typhoon Nesat slashed China’s Taiwan on July 30, 2017 / AFP Photo

Massive flight and train cancellations were reported and schools were closed in Fuzhou, the capital city of Fujian Province.

While markets in the regional capital Taipei will be open as the city returns to normal, financial markets and businesses in the region's second-largest city, Kaohsiung, remained closed, as the storm is expected to bring torrential rain and possible flooding and landslides.

This is the first time in 50 years the island has issued alerts for two storms simultaneously. Nesat has left at least 111 people injured while causing significant flooding and widespread power outages.

Typhoon Nesat slashed east China region Taiwan on July 30, 2017 / AFP Photo‍

Emergency operation workers said most of the injuries were from flying debris or car accidents while some slipped in the bad weather.

More than half a million households were without electricity as Nesat pounded the island with downpours and winds of up to 180 kilometers an hour.

The city of Pingtung suffered the worst flooding as of Saturday night, with some 200 residents stranded but later rescued.

(Source: agencies)