Typhoon Haitang tears through Taiwan

Haitang slowed after ploughing into Taiwan, causing millions of dollars of damage that brought the island to a virtual standstill on Monday, but is still expected to lash east and southeast China with ferocity.

The first storm of the season is approaching the mainland, packing winds of up to 119 kilometres per hour (74 miles per hour) and gusts of 160 kilometres per hour.

At 3:15 pm (0715 GMT) it had yet to make landfall, but officials at the Fujian flood control and drought relief office said the eye of the typhoon would likely hit the city of Quanzhou soon.

"Typhoon Haitan is still several kilometres offshore, it will probably land by late afternoon," said one official who refused to be named.

Chinese authorities have been on high alert after learning lessons last year when Typhoon Rananim devastated the area, causing massive destruction and killing at least 164 people.

Frantic round-the-clock preparations that began Monday have seen volunteers and 5,000 armed police mobilised to evacuate people to higher ground, reports said.

In Fujian 539,000 people, including more than 300,000 fishermen, had been moved to safety, while 25,000 ships had taken shelter in provincial harbours, the Fujian Flood Relief Office said on its website.