The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) sent a letter to its counterpart in Taiwan on Friday, expressing sympathy for typhoon-affected people in the province.

Tropical storm Kalmaegi, which has ravaged several cities and counties in Taiwan, killed and injured many people and caused huge economic losses by destroying roads, bridges and constructions, according to the letter, which was forwarded to the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

"Please convey our profound condolences for the families of the Taiwan compatriots died in the disaster and express sympathies for the disaster-affected people." read the letter.

"It is our hope that the typhoon-battered areas will restore normal order at an early date," it added.

Kalmaegi made landfall near Ilan in northern Taiwan late on Thursday when it was a typhoon and killed at least six people in the island.

It then weakened into a severe tropical storm at 2 a.m. Friday and then hit eastern Fujian Province on Friday evening.

The coastal province has evacuated 180,000 people and called 35,000 fishing vessels back to harbor to brace for Kalmaegi as of 10 a.m. Friday, according to the provincial flood control authorities.