Taiwan issues land warning as Typhoon Soudelor nears island

[TAIPEI] Taiwan issued a land warning and cautioned against landslides and flooding as Typhoon Soudelor barrels westward toward the island and eastern China. Taipei saw rain on Thursday evening.

Traveling northwest at 22 kilometers (14 miles) an hour, Soudelor was expected to strengthen as it approaches Taiwan's shores, the island's Central Weather Bureau said in a land warning at 2:30 am local time on Friday. Ships and people working along its coasts were earlier warned to exercise caution and brace for wind and waves.

The storm is the fourth typhoon this year to trigger Taiwan sea or land warnings, according to the weather bureau. Heavy rains may douse the island on Friday and Saturday, the Taipei- based United Daily News reported.

China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp will bring forward the departure time of some of its international flights to Europe and US, Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration said in a statement late Thursday. TransAsia Airways Corp. canceled three flights from Japan and Macau to Taiwan.

In July, Typhoon Chan-hom prompted Taiwan to close its financial markets as well as schools and offices for one day.

BLOOMBERG