CRISISBOOM

voanews.com

Tropical storm Nanmadol dumped as much as a half-meter of rain on Taiwan Monday, forcing mass evacuations and flooding homes, roads and farmland before heading toward southeastern China.

The storm was downgraded from typhoon status early Monday. It struck with torrents of rain and winds over 100 kilometers an hour as it began moving through the southern portion of the island before entering the Taiwan Strait.  There were early reports of one fatality.

The storm lurked for several days last week off the northern Philippine island of Luzon, before battering remote mountain areas near the sea.  Authorities say at least 16 people in northern Luzon were killed by flooding and mudslides, and more than 6,000 others were evacuated as the storm moved northward and offshore toward Taiwan.

Philippine officials warned Sunday the death toll may rise, with some people thought to have been swept into the sea.  Many others were injured.

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taiwanese people scrape the mud off their house following flood and landslides triggered by typhoon Nanmadol in Laiyi, Pingtung County, Southern Taiwan, Monday, Aug. 29, 2011. Nanmadol slammed into Taiwan, closing schools, workplaces and government offices. (AP Photo) TAIWAN OUT