Supertyphoon Soudelor heads for Taiwan

Typhoon Soudelor, dubbed the world’s most powerful storm so far into 2015, is heading for Taiwan.

Soudelor, is currently west of Guam and the northern Mariana Islands, where it has caused widespread damage.

Although no deaths have been reported so far, nearly 400 people had to be moved to emergency shelters after the supertyphoon ripped roofs off houses and left residents without power and water.

Acting governor Ralph Torres declared a “state of major disaster and significant emergency” after it struck late Sunday.

Former Tropical Depression 13W strengthened on Friday showing several areas of very strong thunderstorms, turning into a tropical storm that was renamed Soudelor. On Monday, it grew into a supertyphoon.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center noted that Soudelor is expected to further intensify due to warm ocean water and low wind shear, which will allow for continued strengthening.

The supertyphoon could reach the equivalent strength of a Category 5 hurricane with winds over 270 kilometres per hour.



Soudelor is expected to gradually weaken as it nears Taiwan in four days time, making final landfall in eastern China.

So far, the worst storm of the year had been Cyclone Pam, which killed at least 15 people when it slammed into Vanuatu in March.

You may also enjoy reading:

Monsoon rain leaves over 100 dead in India

Japan's Mount Shindake volcano erupts

Japan rocked by 5.6-magnitude earthquake in Ibaraki prefecture