Typhoon Dujuan lashed Taiwan overnight .

Strong winds from Typhoon Dujuan uproot a large tree in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, September 2, 2003. The fast-moving storm, packing gusts of up to 190 kilometers per hour and one of the strongest typhoons to hit Taiwan this year, killed one person and left another missing on the island before heading towards Hong Kong and the south Chinese mainland coast. [Reuters]

The most powerful typhoon to hit the region this year blacked out thousands of homes, uprooted trees and drenched Taiwan. Two people died in the storm and a college student is missing.

The Taiwan Power Company says that 146 thousand homes were still without power. Earlier in the day 580 thousand homes were without electricity until repairs could be made by late Tuesday.

Now with the storm heading through Hong Kong and over to the mainland China, The Hong Kong Observatory says it has raised a strong wind signal to a number eight warning.

Schools, shops, businesses and financial markets have been closed in the city.

Satellite image from the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center shows Typhoon Dujuan approaching the southern coast of Taiwan. Typhoon Dujuan, with winds of up to 140 mph (225 kph), has already battered Taiwan and is now heading towards Hong Kong. [Reuters]

A spokesman for Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific says the airline has to halt all traffic. The suspension of services may remain in force until late morning on Wednesday.

The latest reports say the typhoon has now landed in Guangdong.

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