Typhoon batters southern Taiwan, with another heading for Japanese island of Okinawa

Coaches were overturned and hundred of people's homes were ripped apart as a typhoon swept through southern Taiwan.
The army were called in to help with the clean-up operation, as trees were uprooted and furniture was seen floating in the streets of the East Asian state.
Flood waters from Typhoon Tembin reached nine feet high in one town, where armored vehicles rescued several dozen people from their flooded homes.

Nightmare: The typhoon has ruined people's homes and possessions

Chaos: A billboard rests on the damaged roof of a shop after falling over in winds brought by Typhoon Tembin

Powerful: A tour bus lies on its side after being blown over by winds caused by the typhoon

Battling through: Residents clean flood damaged goods brought on by Typhoon Tembin in Hengchun Township in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan

The typhoon largely spared the island’s heavily populated areas, while another, larger storm was threatening to hit the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
It is believed five people were injured in its path, including two firefighters.
Television pictures from the town of Hengchun showed empty buses overturned by raging waters and streets littered with uprooted trees and pieces of mangled furniture.

 

View from above: NASA's Aqua satellite flew over Typhoon Tembin after it had crossed southern Taiwan and re-emerged into the waters of the Philippine Seas

After quickly crossing the island, Tembin returned to sea by late morning.
Back in August 2009, Taiwan was devastated by Typhoon Morakot, which was the deadliest of its kind to ever hit the island, killing around 700 people.
The government was criticised for its slow deployment of supplies and troops, which could account for stationing around 50,000 soldiers on standby this time around should the typhoon return and wreak more havoc.
Typhoon Bolaven, meanwhile, could reach Okinawa soon with maximum winds near the eye forecast at 112 mph.
On Friday, the storm had winds of 101 mph, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The agency issued advisories for gale-force winds in Okinawa and high waves in the waters around the island, where more than half the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan are stationed.
One of the biggest, Kadena Air Base, banned water-based activities in the rough seas as part of its preparations for the typhoon.
In Taiwan, authorities mindful of a devastating typhoon that took 700 lives three years ago had evacuated mountainous, landslide-prone areas and readied troops for rescue operations, but for the most part, they were not needed.
Winds measuring close to 96 mph toppled trees and blew out windows in the area, but no casualties were reported.
Forecasters say Tembin, now a tropical storm, appears to be heading for mainland China but could turn back and dump more rain across Taiwan’s southern agricultural heartland.
The impact of Tembin in the heavily populated areas of northern Taiwan was extremely limited.
Businesses and schools in Taipei were operating normally, and flights at the capital’s two airports were unaffected.

Helping hand: Taiwan soldiers help residents to clean areas affected by floods brought on by Typhoon Tembin

Dirty work: Soldiers muck in to help the residents out after the typhoon crashed through buildings

Big job ahead: Residents clean quarters affected by a mud slide caused by heavy rain dumped by Typhoon Tembin

No let up: Soldiers removing fallen trees in Taitung, southern Taiwan, in the aftermath of the typhoon