Authorities in south-eastern China put 800,000 people in temporary shelters as Typhoon Haitang churned toward the coast today with fierce rains and high winds after hammering northern Taiwan and leaving three people dead.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from China’s south-east coast ahead of the expected arrival of Typhoon Haitang.

Typhoon Haitang pounded communities along Taiwan’s north-east coast today as schools, government offices and financial markets were ordered to close.