Taipei, Sep 14 (IANS): Typhoon Meranti paralysed southern Taiwan on Wednesday after floods damaged buildings and infrastructure, a media report said.

Taiwan deployed some 20,000 soldiers, evacuated 20,629 persons from Green Island, Orchid Island and eastern Taiwan, EFE news reported.

According to the National Commission for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), more than 20,000 households were left without water and electricity.

Flights and railway services were postponed, while schools and government agencies have been shut on Wednesday.

Due to strong waves in the seas around southern Taiwan fishing and transport boats were suspended.

With a radius of 200 km, the typhoon was carrying maximum sustained winds of 209 kmph, with gusts of up to 263 kmph, according to Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau.

So far, there were 341 litres of rain per square metre in southern Taiwan, and more is expected.

Meranti -- the strongest typhoon to hit the country since 1959 -- is expected to cross the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday and arrive China's Fujian coast by Thursday.