According to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau, a massive typhoon hit Taiwan today grounding more than 100 flights and causing floods in Taipei and power blackouts for at least 170,000 households.

Typhoon Krosa was about 30 kilometers north-northeast of the eastern coastal town of Hualien at 4 p.m. when it changed course towards inland with speed well in excess of 227 kilometers (141 miles) per hour.

The 17th storm of the northwest Pacific cyclone season caused flooding in low-lying areas of Taipei and prompted China Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and other carriers to cancel flights. Tourists were also evacuated from coastal areas in eastern China ahead of Krosa's approach.

At least three people suffered injuries in Taiwan because of the typhoon, according to the island's National Fire Agency. TVBS News, a TV channel, broadcast pictures of flooding in the north of Taipei.

Power had been restored to 100,000 households that were cut off, Philip Liang, a fire agency spokesman, said by telephone. He was unable to say when the other 70,000 would be re-connected. The blackouts were spread across the island.

Krosa was moving northwest at 12 kilometers per hour and is expected to be 250 kilometers north of Yilan at 2 p.m. tomorrow, according to the Taiwan weather agency. Yilan is about 50 kilometers southeast of Taipei.

Most of the canceled flights were from Taiwan to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong or Macau, according to a statement on the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Web site. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's largest carrier, suspended all flights to and from Taipei until 2 p.m. tomorrow, it said in a statement. Its Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. unit axed 11 flights today, according to a separate statement.

Tourists were evacuated from costal islands in eastern China's Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in anticipation of Krosa's approach, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, citing local meteorological and tourism offices.