The same amount of rain falls on Taiwan’s mountains in a day as falls on London in a year as people shelter from 140mph winds.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from islands off the coast of Taiwan and China as a super typhoon bears down on both countries.
Winds gusting up to 141mph (227km/h) have been measured close to the centre of Super Typhoon Dujuan, which was due to make landfall in Taiwan on Monday morning UK time.
Around 3,000 people were extracted from Taiwan’s Green Island and Orchid Island on Sunday as the storm approached.
Several thousand more are also believed to have been removed from Taiwan’s eastern coastal area.
The country’s Central Weather Bureau issued an “extremely heavy rain advisory” for seven cities and counties.
Torrential rains and high winds were predicted across Taiwan as Dujuan passed over the country.
One of the weather stations close to Taipei City had recorded a 24-hour rainfall of 581mm by 8pm local time.
By comparison, the Met Office says that London receives an average of 557mm for an entire year.
Japan’s meteorological agency has warned that the storm could trigger waves up to 13 metres high.
Dujuan was expected to continue heading west-northwest in the direction of the China where it would hit Fujian province, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
Officials said it was also expected to cause heavy rain and high winds in the provinces of Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Anhui on Tuesday.
Among the effects in Taiwan was the cancellation of a concert by US rock band, Bon Jovi, which had been due to take place in Taipei on Monday.
Taiwan was badly hit by Typhoon Soudelor last month with mountain communities particularly badly affected. At least 21 people died.
More than 24,000 troops have been put on standby for disaster relief and evacuations in Taiwan, with 100 shelters set up.
