Taiwan on Typhoon Storm Alert

The super typhoon packed winds of up to 263km (163 miles) an hour, some 780km south-east of Taiwan’s Hualien city on Wednesday, officials said.

They also warned of the risk of flooding and mudslides as high winds and lashing rains were expected.

Taiwan is bracing itself for the arrival of a vast typhoon, expected to hit the island in the next day.

Thousands of tourists have been evacuated from offshore islands ahead of category five Typhoon Nepartak.

“As the typhoon kept gaining strength and approaching Taiwan over the past three hours, the Central Weather Bureau decided to issue a sea warning at 14:30 local time (06:30 GMT)”, senior forecaster Chen Yi-liang said.

Residents must heighten their vigilance.