Typhoon Tembin slams southern Taiwan
Workers clear debris from by typhoon Saola in Shanshia district, the New Taipei City, on August 3, 2012. Typhoon Saola pounded Taiwan with fierce winds and torrential rain that left six people dead and forced nearly the entire island to shut down, rescuers and media said.
Typhoon Tembin hit southern Taiwan overnight, cutting power to half a million people but not causing any immediately reported fatalities, according to Al Jazeera.
Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in preparation for the tropical storm, which hit father south and less intensely than expected, said Al Jazeera, although weather officials there warn that it could return.
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The island nation was devastated by Typhoon Saola earlier this month, a storm that left several people dead and killed scores in the Philippines.
The Associated Press said life in the country's more populated north was largely unaffected, with Taipei's two airports running normally today.
But the storm drenched the nation's southern coastline, pouring up to 50 centimeters of rain on some counties and submerging several towns in knee-deep waters, according to Al Jazeera.
The state Taiwan Power Company said over 50,000 homes lost power, reported Al Jazeera. Crop and farm damage is believed to be widespread.
The storm had moved back to the ocean by today and appears to be bound for China, but AP cited forecasters as saying it could come back to Taiwan.