Megi soaks Taiwan

Published: Oct. 22, 2010 at 1:38 AM

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Typhoon Megidrenched and buffeted Taiwan Friday, causing flooding and landslides despite being about 200 miles away, officials said.

The China Post reported 287 people from eight tourist groups were stranded along a roadway that had collapsed and 1,070 passengers were trapped in a train for 4 hours by flooding.

Taipei Times reported the storm had interrupted railway traffic and inundated much of Yilan County. Businesses and schools were shut down in Yilan, Pingtung and Penghu counties.

As of 8:30 p.m. Thursday, local time, Megi was 230 miles southwest of Oluanpi, the southernmost tip of Taiwan, and was producing sustained winds of 108 mph with gusts up to 131 mph as it headed north-northwest at 6 mph, meteorologists said.

Taiwan was forecast to receive 20-60 inches of rain in the next 48 hours, the Central Weather Bureau said.

The Chinese news agency Xinhua said Megi was responsible for at least 19 deaths in the Philippines early in the week.

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