The government issued a warning to south and southeast parts of the island yesterday as Typhoon Utor approached the island, gaining strength all the time.
At 8pm local time last night, Utor, the fourth typhoon to threaten Taiwan this year, was 1,020km southeast of Oluanpi, Taiwan's southernmost point, the Central Weather Bureau said in a statement.
The typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 120kph and gusts of up to 155kph, was moving northwest toward Taiwan at an average of 33kph.
The bureau warned of possible heavy winds and rains, and asked ships operating nearby to exercise cautions.
Late last month, Typhoon Chebi swept through Taiwan and China, killing at least 87 people and injuring 116 and caused an estimated NT$635 million in damage to Taiwan's agriculture, fishery and forestry industries.
RSS