Beijing: A tropical storm that prompted flight and ferry cancellations in Taiwan is forecast to reach typhoon strength before hitting the southern China coast on Sunday. The storm earlier crossed the Philippines, where a parked truck was crushed by a billboard-like structure that was toppled by high winds in Quezon City, north of Manila. Wipha had maximum sustained winds of 101 kmph and gusts up to 126 kmph as it passed Taiwan on Saturday, the island’s Central News Agency said.

Over 20cm of rain was recorded in Hualien and Taitung on Taiwan’s east coast. Several domestic flights were cancelled, and service on 14 ferry routes was suspended because of rough seas and strong winds. On the other side of Taiwan Strait, many ferries suspended service in Fujian on China’s east coast.

The storm, the sixth of the season in the western Pacific, is forecast to reach typhoon strength before passing near Hong Kong overnight. It is expected to bring heavy rain along China's southern coast and then weaken as it heads west to Vietnam and Laos. In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific said all flights arriving or departing between 5am and 6pm on Sunday would be cancelled or delayed. 

Boat capsize during thunderstorm: 18 killed, 23 missing A tourist boat capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon during a sightseeing excursion, killing 18 people and leaving 26 missing. The Wonder Sea boat was carrying 48 passengers and 5 crew mem­bers during the tour of Ha Long Bay. Rescuers saved 12 people, and recovered 18 bodies; 26 were missing. Most passengers were tourists, including 20 children, from Hanoi.