Forecasters warn tropical storm Nari is gaining strength

Tropical storm Nari was gaining power while approaching Taiwan yesterday and weather forecasters warned of possible strong winds and rain.

The center of Nari was 440km northeast of Taipei at 5pm, the Central Weather Bureau said.

"Nari was standing still over the past six hours," a weatherman said. "But there were signs showing it is picking up strength."

With a radius of 150km and packing gusts of 110kph, the storm is expected to move west-southwest at a pace of 5kph.

Ships sailing north and northeast of Taiwan should use caution.