Typhoon Morakot has hit Taiwan with force, bringing with it more than a metre of rain and winds of 145km/h (90mph).
The authorities had closed schools and offices and cancelled flights ahead of the strongest typhoon of the year so far.
Taiwan coast guards had already rescued nine Indonesians and one Korean from two fishing ships which ran ashore in bad weather.
Torrential rain and strong wind also left motorists struggling in the port city of Kaohsiung, and knocked down racks in a ship factory.
One-Minute World News 
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