Record-breaking winds and heavy rains disrupted transport today as Super-Typhoon Meranti cut a path across southern Taiwan and headed toward China. Toppled trees and storefront signs were strewn about a thoroughfare in Kenting National Park’s Hengchun Township, images on Taipei-based Sanlih E-Television showed. Wind speeds of 52.2 meters per second (117 miles per hour) were the fastest since record-keeping began in 1896,
according to the Taipei-based Apple Daily. Schools, offices and markets remained open in the capital of Taipei. The super-typhoon comes just before a four-day weekend in Taiwan beginning Thursday, marking the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Most flights in and out of the southern port city of Kaohsiung were canceled, according to the Civil Aeronautics Administration. READ MORE
