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People in Taiwan are being warned to brace themselves for the arrival of Super Typhoon Nepartak.
Authorities have urged residents to take precautions as fierce winds and torrential rain are expected to batter the island from Thursday evening.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled and some schools and offices closed in preparation for the category five storm.
A satellite image shows the typhoon as it approaches Taiwan. Pic: Central Weather Bureau
Gusts of up to 245kmh (152mph) – have been recorded as Nepartak rumbles towards the eastern county of Hualien, according to the Central Weather Bureau.
Officials are also warning of the risk of flooding and landslides as rain lashes the island.
Big waves are already hitting the shore of the nearby Ilan port city, where fishermen have been told to secure their boats.
Forecasters said waves up to 24ft (7.3m) could batter the coast, inland lakes and beachfront areas.
Hong Kong’s two biggest airlines, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair, said they were cancelling flights to and from Taiwan from Thursday evening to Friday afternoon.
Taiwan’s defence ministry have said 35,000 soldiers are on standby to help with evacuations and disaster relief, while nearly 100 shelters have been put up.
Local media reported that food prices had risen ahead of the typhoon, going up by 8.7% at some fruit and vegetable markets.
Taiwan is often hit by typhoons, but Nepartak is the first major tropical storm of this season.
Super Typhoon Dujuan battered Taiwan last year
Last year, Super Typhoon Dujuan killed three people and injured more than 300, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
In 2009, Typhoon Morakot devastated the island, killing more than 600 people, most of them buried in huge landslides in the south.
Once past Taiwan, Nepartak is expected to pound China on Saturday, where it will bring further rain to some areas already struggling to cope with heavy flooding.
Courtesy of Sky News
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