Typhoon Malakas to affect eastern and northern parts of Taiwan
Taipei - Taiwan on Friday morning issued a landfall warning for Typhoon Malakas, which is expected to bring strong winds to the eastern and northern parts of the country later on Friday and Saturday, media reported.
The typhoon is likely to sweep north off the eastern coast of Taiwan before turning northeast toward Japan, state-run Central News Agency quoted the Central Weather Bureau as saying.
The eye of the storm was located about 470 kilometers to the southeast of Taiwan and was moving northwest at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour, according to the bureau.
"Residents in eastern Taiwan should stay alert to strong winds and heavy rain. Typhoon Malakas is possibly getting stronger," Bureau forecaster Wu Wan-hua told a news conference Friday.
As of Friday morning, Malakas had reached wind speeds of up to 50 metres per second, according to the bureau.
Malakas is heading to Taiwan only two days after Super Typhoon Meranti caused destruction in large parts of the island, killing one, injuring dozens and leaving nearly a million people without power.
- DPA