At least seven people have been killed by Typhoon Meranti, which lashed much of southeastern China and Taiwan. Several other people are missing.
The storm, which hit the Chinese mainland early Thursday, is the strongest typhoon to hit the country's southeastern region since the founding of Communist China in 1949 and the strongest so far this year anywhere in the world, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated ahead of the storm, and dozens of flights and train services have been canceled.
The storm was registered as a super typhoon before losing strength after sweeping across southern Taiwan.
Typhoons are common this time of year, picking up strength as they cross the warm waters of the Pacific and bringing fierce winds and rain when they hit land.
