Southern Taiwan shuts down ahead of Typhoon Podul arrival

The majority of southern and eastern Taiwan shut down on Wednesday, with hundreds of flights cancelled and thousands of people evacuated ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Podul later in the day.

Nine cities and counties announced the suspension of work and school for Wednesday, including the southern metropolises of Kaohsiung and Tainan. In the capital Taipei, home to Taiwan's financial markets, there was no impact.

The government revealed that more than 5,500 people had been evacuated ahead of the typhoon's arrival.

The transport ministry also announced cancellation of all flights, including 252 domestic and 129 international flights that were initially scheduled. 

Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, generally along its mountainous, sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific.

The mid-strength Typhoon Podul, packing wind gusts as strong as 191 kph (118 mph), was heading for the southeastern city of Taitung as it intensifies and was expected to make landfall nearby on Wednesday afternoon, weather officials said.

"Destructive winds from typhoon expected. Take shelter as soon as possible," read a text message alert issued to cellphone users in parts of Taitung early on Wednesday. The alert warned people of gusts above 150 kph (93 mph) in the coming hours.

Authorities are also working to evacuate those whose homes were damaged by a July typhoon that brought  record winds and damaged the electricity grid in a rare direct hit to Taiwan's west coast.

After making landfall, the storm is expected to hit Taiwan's much more densely populated western coast before heading for China's southern province of Fujian later this week.

As much as 600 mm (24 inches) of rain was forecast in southern mountainous areas over the next few days, the Central Weather Administration said.

More than a year's rainfall fell in a single week this month in some southern areas, unleashing widespread landslides and flooding, with four deaths.