Typhoon drenches Taiwan, kills 2 people; floods hit Manila (Update)

Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after a powerful typhoon slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains, killing two people and injuring 72.

Typhoon Nepartak made landfall early morning in Taitung county, grounding planes and fishing boats. More than 15,000 people were evacuated.

In the Philippine capital Manila and outlying provinces, government work and classes were suspended Friday as typhoon-induced monsoon rains drenched many regions. Rescuers used rubber boats to move people around in waist-high floodwaters.

By late morning, Nepartak had weakened to a medium-strength typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 163 kilometers (100 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 230 kph (143 mph), Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said. It was forecast to reach mainland China's Fujian province Saturday morning.

In Taiwan, about 430,000 households were affected by power cuts, but half of them had electricity restored in the afternoon.

The island's railway services also have been suspended, while more than 600 domestic and international flights were canceled on Friday.

Although the typhoon was losing power, disaster response officials said they remained concerned that the heavy rains would trigger floods and landslides in the rugged terrain.

Taiwanese authorities reported that more than 15,400 people have been evacuated from 14 counties and cities.

Nepartak is a Micronesian word for a local warrior.

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Associated Press writer Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to this report.

In this image made from video, wind-blown debris from Typhoon Nepartak litters the street and damages a vehicle in Taitung, south eastern Taiwan, Friday, July 8, 2016. Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after Nepartak slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains. (EBC via AP Video)
In this image made from video, two people brace themselves in strong winds from Typhoon Nepartak in Taitung, south eastern Taiwan, Friday, July 8, 2016. Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after Nepartak slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains. (EBC via AP Video)
In this image made from video, wind-blown debris litters the street from Typhoon Nepartak in Taitung, south eastern Taiwan, Friday, July 8, 2016. Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after Nepartak slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains, killing two people and injuring 72. (EBC via AP Video)
Filipino rescuers ferry residents on a rubber boat along a flooded road in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines, as monsoon downpours intensify while Typhoon Nepartak exits the country on Friday, July 8, 2016. In the Philippine capital, Manila, and outlying provinces, classes in many schools were suspended and at least six flights, including one scheduled to come from Taiwan, were canceled because of stormy weather and floods following monsoon downpours intensified by the typhoon, Filipino officials said. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
This July 7, 2016, image provided by NASA shows Typhoon Nepartak as it approaches Taiwan and the Philippines. Philippine forecasters warned fishing boats not to venture out to sea and commercial ships to watch out for big waves as a powerful typhoon roared off the country's northeastern coast. (Jeff Schmaltz/NASA/LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response via AP)
In this image made from video, appliances are piled up in a damaged convenience store by strong winds from Typhoon Nepartak in Taitung, south eastern Taiwan, Friday, July 8, 2016. Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after Nepartak slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains. (EBC via AP Video)
Filipino boys play with a used tire along a flooded road in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines, as monsoon downpours intensify while Typhoon Nepartak exits the country on Friday, July 8, 2016. In the Philippine capital, Manila, and outlying provinces, classes in many schools were suspended and at least six flights, including one scheduled to come from Taiwan, were canceled because of stormy weather and floods following monsoon downpours intensified by the typhoon, Filipino officials said. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Two women inspect damage from Typhoon Nepartak in Pingtung southern Taiwan, Friday, July 8, 2016. Power was partially restored in Taiwan on Friday after Nepartak slammed into the island's eastern coast with ferocious winds and torrential rains. (Central News Agency via AP)