It seems as if Nantou has a share in every natural disaster

Annette Lu

Two others were hit by flying debris, including one man hit by a door knocked down by winds.

Nine villagers in the central county of Nantou - devastated by an earthquake last year - were buried under a landslide.

Winds also lifted roofs of 23 prefabricated houses for earthquake victims.

"It seems as if Nantou has a share in every natural disaster," Vice President Annette Lu said.

The US National Hurricane Centre said it had recorded winds as high as 320km/h (200mph), making Bilis a "super-typhoon".

Thousands evacuated

The typhoon uprooted trees and triggered landslides

Tens of thousands had to be moved from their homes into government shelters.

In eastern Hualien county, about 250 houses collapsed in the strong winds, officials said.

The Central Weather Bureau warned of landslides and floods in low-lying areas.

The typhoon stretching 32 km (20 miles) - the strongest in Asia this year - struck the island on Tuesday at around 2230 (1430GMT).

A few found opportunity in the chaos - four prisoners who were serving sentences ranging from 13 years to life for robbery escaped from their cells.

Banks and schools shut

Banks, financial markets, offices and schools were closed and flights suspended.

Children were sent home from school on Tuesday, and many people left work early to buy food, batteries and other supplies, and to cover their windows.

Typhoon Bilis seen by satellite before it hit Taiwan

Taiwan's cabinet has set up an emergency centre in the capital Taipei, manned by the police, fire services and military.

Bilis is now heading for south-east China, and is expected to reach land late on Wednesday or early Thursday.

Vietnam hit

In Vietnam, another typhoon has killed at least six people.

Several others were reported missing when Tropical Storm Kaemi hit the coast late Tuesday.

Among the dead were two Indian tourists, drowned after a whirlwind capsized their boats in Halong Bay, north-east of Hanoi.

One child was killed by lightning and a man electrocuted in Danang city.

Several fishing boats were reported to have sunk in rough seas off the central coast - which is hit annually by storms - and another 80 failed to return to shore, state media reported.

A potential hazard arose when an offshore drilling rig broke away in the storm.

It was brought to a halt by two tankers and is being towed back to the shore.