Typhoon Haikui wreaks havoc

Nature’s might: A screen grab showing a damaged section of a highway in the aftermath of Typhoon Haikui in Taitung. — AFP

TYPHOON Haikui toppled hundreds of trees, damaged coastal roads and dumped torrential rains across Taiwan before it weakened into a severe storm and headed for southern China.

Haikui had initially appeared to depart the island but made a second landfall early yesterday in southwest Kaohsiung, before it was downgraded to a severe tropical storm as it moved out into the Taiwan Strait.