Typhoon Saola pounded northern and central Taiwan Thursday, bringing heavy rain, high winds and extensive flooding, dpa reported. The storm made landfall at 3:20 am (7:20 pm GMT Wednesday) near the city of Hualien on the east coast, bearing sustained winds of 118 kilometres per hour (kph) and gusts of 155 kph. One person had drowned in floods, another was killed by a mudslide, and a third was stuck by a falling tree, the Apple Daily tabloid reported. Thirteen people had been injured by the storm. The typhoon's slow tracking speed of 12 kph meant that heavy rains would run on through the weekend, the Central Weather Bureau said. Many neighbourhoods and towns on Taiwan's east coast suffered extensive flooding. Local media showed torrents rushing down mountainsides and overflowing the system of levies, pumps and sandbags that usually keep the waters at bay. Authorities ordered all businesses and schools closed Thursday, and financial markets were not opened. Most streets in the capital were deserted after authorities advised residents to stay indoors. As of 6:00 am the weather system was moving north along the eastern seaboard, and was expected to weaken to a tropical storm before heading to mainland China Friday.
