At least two died after the powerful Typhoon Wipha struck northern Japan and Taiwan, where land and air traffic was disrupted, officials and media reports said Tuesday.

An elderly man died in the northern Akita prefecture early Tuesday, while two other persons were reported missing after strong torrent swept them away, Japanese media informed.

Typhoon Wipha lashed out at Japan on Monday, bringing heavy rainfall and maximum 10-minute average winds of 185 kilometres per hour. More than 30,000 people were preparing to leave the region after authorities said most rivers will burst out of their banks and cause massive floods.

The storm system quickly strengthened into a “super typhoon” and threatened to hit China Tuesday with wind speed of up to 250 kilometres per hour near its centre, the Japan Meteorological Agency warned.

More than 50 flights were cancelled in northern Japan and trains were halted in stations after the fierce typhoon made landfall.

Wipha caused severe damage in Taiwan, disrupting both air and land traffic. One person died and another one was injured when a scaffolding crumbled early Tuesday near Taipei. Strong winds battered the region and the 20-metre scaffolding began faltering before it collapsed, taking the life of one worker.

Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed at Taipei international airport, while the Songshan airport serving domestic flights was closed.

North-eastern Taiwan was the most affected by the strong winds and heavy rain brought by the typhoon. Rocks were dislodged by the continuous rainfall and threatened to destroy several homes, prompting the authorities to evacuate three settlements.

The stock market in Taipei was closed Tuesday, while most of the companies in the east and north told their workers to remain at home.

Specialists said Wipha is heading for China's Fujian coast, about 300 kilometres north-west of Taiwan. They expected the storm to make landfall early Wednesday with wind speed of up to 198 kilometres per hour at the typhoon’s core.

Residents in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces have been warned to take precautions, as authorities began evacuating about 200,000 people from the eastern coast, media informed.

The coastal regions of the Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces were already affected by strong winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour and downpours.

On Monday, all ships were urged to return to port in the south-eastern province of Fujian, as Wipha approached at a rate of 20 kilometres per hour.

Officials in the Zhejiang province said the typhoon will cause “great losses” if it strikes the region with full force. Floods and landslides are expected in the eastern coastal province, authorities warning residents to be prepared for evacuation.