On the night of August 22nd, 2000, Typhoon Bilis mad landfall on southern Taiwan at its peak intensity. Its 160 mph (258 km/hr) maximum sustained winds took over 70 lives and brought over US$650 million in damages to Taiwan and mainland China. Bilis formed four day prior to landfall east of the Philippine Islands. It quickly formed into a tropical storm and was named Isang by the Philippine weather service (PAGASA) and Bilis by the Japan Meteorological Agency. It strengthened very rapidly and despite undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle just prior to hitting Taiwan, maintained its full force as it struck the island.