The brutal wave of weather disturbances has already killed 159 people and prompted the United Nations to request $32.9 million in aid for the worst-affected regions.

Kong-rey was packing wind gusts of nearly 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per hour), according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Taiwan braces itself for the arrival of a vast typhoon, expected to hit the island on July 8, 2016.