Typhoon Soulik kills 1, injures 21 in Taiwan

TAIPEI - Taiwan's meteorological authority said Typhoon Soulik has left one dead and 21 others injured after it hit the northern part of the island early Saturday morning.

The island's disaster emergency center said the victim was a police officer who was hit on the head by a falling brick and died after hospital treatment failed.

A tree is brought down by Typhoon Soulik in Taipei city, Taiwan, July 13, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

The authority said Soulik hit the region between Yilan county and Xinbei city at around 3 am Saturday, bringing strong wind and rainstorms.

The gust toppled trees and blew off advertisement boards, causing multiple injuries, the authority said.

As of 7 am the typhoon is still affecting across Taiwan as well as the Penghu and Matsu regions, with its center moving northwestward at a speed of 24 km per hour, the meteorological authority said, adding that it is constantly weakening.

The typhoon has caused heavy rains across the island. An area in Hsinchu county has witnessed 755 mm of precipitation from Thursday to Saturday morning. In Keelung, police have evacuated the people in some areas drenched by the downpours.

The authority also issued a warning of heavy rainstorms on Saturday morning, cautioning the public to guard against possible floods, landslides and falling stones.

All counties and cities in Taiwan announced to suspend school classes and work on Saturday.