Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, but generally lands along the mountainous Pacific coast and the sparsely populated east coast.
Typhoon Danus, listed at the second strongest level at one point by Taiwan’s Weather Bureau, heading north towards the Taiwan Strait after landing along the southwest coast on Sunday.
It has since weakened significantly, and was projected to hit eastern China later this week.
“Typhoon trucks are rare. Taiwan is subject to wind and rain one after another,” President Reichete said in a Facebook post, urging citizens to prepare.
Power has been cut to more than half a million homes, and over 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled, government data shows. The North-South High-South Railroad Line has reduced back service.
The National Fire Service said one person was killed by a tree falling while driving, and another died after malfunctioning due to a blackout.
Record winds of around 220 kilometres per hour have been recorded in the southwest county of Yunlin, but over 700 trees and street signs have been blown across western cities and towns, government data shows.
There were no major reports of damage at Teinan Science Park, which houses high-tech giants such as TSMC.
Maritime officials in Zhijiang Province, eastern China, raised emergency response to the second highest level on Monday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
As of 10am (7am), 121 passenger ships and 64 ferry routes were suspended statewide, CCTV reported. Authorities also stopped 181 construction projects, including wind farms, as a precaution.
According to the China Weather Service, Danus is expected to gradually approach the coastal area between Zhijiang’s solar city and nearby Fuzhou city in Fujian Province.
The typhoon is expected to land along the stretch late Tuesday.
rhm/