Typhoon Soudelor Hits Taiwan; 4 Dead. A powerful typhoon is pummeling Taiwan, ripping up trees, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, and killing at least four people.

Typhoon Soudelor, which made landfall early Saturday, is bringing intense winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour to the island. TV footage showed trees, billboards and wind turbines being swept up by the storm.

Some areas have received up to 1,000 millimeters of rain, causing floods and landslides.

Officials say at least 700,000 homes are without power. Authorities have closed offices and schools. Flights and other forms of transportation have also been suspended.

Casualties include an eight-year-old girl and her mother who were swept to sea as the storm approached. Others have been hit by flying debris.

Ahead of the storm, thousands were evacuated from low-lying areas.