The ferry overturned on Thursday when passengers, alarmed by strong winds from Typhoon Doksuri, rushed to one side of the boat.

Authorities said it is not clear how many people were on the ferry, but at least 40 people had been rescued.

Typhoon Doksuri has since brushed past Taiwan before making landfall in southern China on Friday morning.

Taiwan's Kinmen island was battered by heavy rain and strong winds.

Trees were toppled and thousands of homes left without power.

Businesses and schools were shut amid warnings of landslides and floods.

More than 300 domestic and international flights were suspended and railway services between southern and eastern Taiwan were halted.

Ahead of Doksuri's arrival, China's weather authorities issued the highest-level red alert, warning the public to brace for heavy rains and gusts.

Southern Guangdong province, which is along the coastline, prepared by tying boats to bollards in fishing harbors and placing sandbags at railway stations. Train services linking densely populated cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou were also suspended.