Forecasters are reporting the Typhoon Soudelor, which has weakened from earlier this week when it became the strongest storm of the year, could strike Taiwan head-on with the same level of force as 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.

“It is barreling down on Taiwan and winds will strengthen to around 130 mph by the time it hits at some point [Friday] afternoon U.S. time,” Weather Channel forecaster Michael Palmer told NBC. “There will undoubtedly be some significant damage, there will be some massive waves and flash flooding.”

The storm is tracking over the center of the country and about 7 million people in capital city Taipei’s metropolitan area could be impacted by the storm.

The storm has already killed one person.  An 8-year-old girl was confirmed dead after being swept out to sea according to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency.  Another child is missing and feared dead in the incident that was survived by a 38-year-old woman and another child.

Taiwanese authorities forced the evacuations of over 600 residents along coastal areas.  Flights to the island have been cancelled and all schools and public offices and facilities will be closed.

The storm is drawing comparisons to 2009’s Typhoon Morakot that killed 700 people and caused over $3 billion in damage.

Chinese officials have started evacuations from the coastal province of Fujian where the storm is expected to hit after crossing over Taiwan.