Taiwan's central weather bureau has warned the north and centre of the island to prepare for heavy downpours at the approach of Typhoon Sinlaku.
Packing centre winds of 90 miles per hour, Sinlakuis expected to smash northern and central Taiwan this afternoon on its current course, triggering heavy rains, the bureau said.
Over ten inches of rainfall have been recorded in mountainous areas in northeastern Taiwan since yesterday.
The weather bureau urged residents in mountainous areas to take precautions against mudslides and told people in the lowlands to prepare for flooding.
Taiwan's bourse and foreign exchange market were closed today in anticipation of Sinlaku, named after a god in Micronesian legend. Schools, government offices and most businesses in northern Taiwan were also closed ahead of the storm.
Many domestic flights and trains were suspended while passenger vessels that sail between the main Taiwan island and several offshore islands were also cancelled. Some international flights were also cancelled or delayed.
AFP