Powerful Typhoon Soudelor is battering Taiwan with strong winds and heavy rain, leaving at least four people dead.

The storm - with winds of more than 230km/h (142mph) - made landfall on the eastern coast early on Saturday and is now moving across the island.

It is ripping up trees and tearing down billboards, and triggered a landslide in at least one village.

About two million households have been left without electricity.

A picture shows the Jingmei river as typhoon Soudelor hits Taipei on August 8, 2015. Typhoon Soudelor battered Taiwan with fierce winds and rain leaving four people dead and a trail of debris in its wake as it takes aim at mainland China. Photo: AFP/ Sam Yeh

Rail services and flights have been cancelled and all schools and offices closed.

Taiwan's weather bureau says the typhoon is moving north-west, gradually losing its strength.

Among the victims were an eight-year-old girl and her mother who were swept out to sea.

A motorcyclist rides past a damaged roof as typhoon Soudelor hits Taipei on August 8, 2015. Typhoon Soudelor battered Taiwan with fierce winds and rain leaving four people dead and a trail of debris in its wake as it takes aim at mainland China. Photo: AFP/ Sam Yeh

"I've never seen such a powerful typhoon in my 60 years," one resident in the eastern Taitung county told Taiwan's Formosa TV.

Ahead of Soudelour's arrival, the authorities evacuated thousands of people from their homes.

The storm is later expected to move into the Taiwan Strait and on to mainland China.

A man rides past blown down motorcycles as typhoon Soudelor hits Taipei on August 8, 2015. Typhoon Soudelor battered Taiwan with fierce winds and rain leaving four people dead and a trail of debris in its wake as it takes aim at mainland China. Photo: AFP/ Sam Yeh