'Super Typhoon' Strikes China

Typhoon Wipha could be worst in a decade

(NEWSER) - The Chinese government is evacuating 1.8 million people ahead of what is expected to be one of the most powerful typhoons to strike the mainland in years. Typhoon Wipha is bearing down on the densely populated coast with wind gusts at 165 mph and waves up to 36 feet high. Wipha is predicted to make landfall south of Shanghai early tomorrow. More»

Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, China hit; at least 35 dead

(AP) - A typhoon-spawned mudslide engulfed a mountain village in southern Taiwan, burying up to 600 people, a police official and a rescued villager said today. Earlier, Typhoon Morakot had struck the Philippines, leaving at least 22 dead. Another typhoon slammed into Japan's west coast today, bringing heavy rain that triggered floods and landslides that left at least 13 people dead and another 10 reported missing. More»

(NEWSER) - Typhoon Morakot shredded homes, sent water gushing over banks, and uprooted trees in southeast China yesterday, leaving thousands of people stranded. The storm left a trail of destruction in the Philippines and Taiwan, killing dozens, before striking China's coast. The storm's eye turned the sky black and torrential rains washed fish from mudflat fish farms, reports CNN. A separate typhoon hit Japan today, killing 12. More»

(NEWSER) - Some one million people on China's southeast coast have fled ahead of a massive typhoon spawning 30-foot waves and packing 74 mph winds, reports the BBC. Typhoon Morakot made landfall early today in Fujan Province after authorities sent more than 8 million text messages warning residents to evacuate. Morakot dumped more than 8 feet of rain on Taiwan earlier this week, triggering the worst flooding in 50 years. The typhoon also sparked violent rains in the Philippines, where at least 10 people died. More»

Ma Ying-jeou promises 'sovereignty,' more economic ties with mainland

(NEWSER) - Taiwan has re-elected President Ma Ying-jeou, in a move that might make China smile, but not so fast: Ma says he's more interested in building economic ties with the mainland than re-unifying, reports Bloomberg . Ma won a second term in yesterday's elections, beating the pro-independence opposition candidate 51.6% to 45.6%. Ma's Kuomintang Party also maintained majority control of Taiwan's parliament, although it lost 17 seats overall. More»