A villager clears water in her waterlogged home in Ilan County, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola brought heavy rains around Taiwan, forcing most of the island's schools and offices to close Thursday. [Xinhua]

A worker drives a bulldozer to clear mud in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola made its first landfall at 3 a.m. Thursday in Hualien, Taiwan, bringing heavy rains to the island and forcing most schools and offices to close on Thursday. (Xinhua/Hou Dongtao)

An excavator clears mud on a road in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola made its first landfall at 3 a.m. Thursday in Hualien, Taiwan, bringing heavy rains to the island and forcing most schools and offices to close on Thursday. [Xinhua]

A mud-covered road is seen in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola made its first landfall at 3 a.m. Thursday in Hualien, Taiwan, bringing heavy rains to the island and forcing most schools and offices to close on Thursday. [Xinhua]

A citizen looks at the half-submerged cars in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola brought heavy rains around Taiwan, forcing most of the island's schools and offices to close Thursday.[Xinhua]

(120802) -- KAOHSIUNG, Aug. 2, 2012 (Xinhua) -- Broken branches blown by wind are seen on a road in Kaohsiung, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola brought heavy rains around Taiwan, forcing most of the island's schools and offices to close Thursday.[Xinhua]

Cars are half-submerged at a flooded parking lot in Xinbei City, southeast China's Taiwan, Aug. 2, 2012. Typhoon Saola brought heavy rains around Taiwan, forcing most of the island's schools and offices to close Thursday. [Xinhua]