Typhoon Sepat caused at least 830 million Taiwan dollars (12.7 million US) in farm losses after making landfall at the eastern part of the island, agricultural officials said Sunday, according to dpa. Strong winds and torrential rains brought by Sepat, the most powerful storm to hit Taiwan this year, destroyed farm production and flooded low-lying areas in eastern and southern Taiwan, they said. "So far, Sepat has caused more than 830 million Taiwan dollars in agricultural losses, with the southernmost county of Pingtung and the eastern county of Hualien being the worst hit," said a spokesman of the Council of Agriculture. At least one man was killed and 24 others injured when the typhoon hit Taiwan on Saturday, police and officials of the National Disaster Prevention Centre said. Officials said the storm also cut power to 540,000 homes and disrupted land and air traffic before leaving for the southern Chinese province of Fujian late Saturday. All land and air traffic, except for some offshore island-bound domestic flights, resumed Sunday, they added. But the Central Weather Bureau warned residents in southern and eastern Taiwan against floods and mudslides as the heavy rains were expected to continue for two more days.
