Typhoon Dujuan nears Taiwan

Taiwan's weather department has upgraded Dujuan to a "strong typhoon," and said it's due to strike the country later on Monday.

"The whole of the island should heighten vigilance against severe winds and torrential rains," a spokesman for Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau said.

Officials evacuated nearly 7,000 people from Taiwan's Green and Orchid Islands, popular with tourists. Over 200 domestic and international flights, high-speed trains and ferries and flights were cancelled on Monday.

New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu said officials were preparing for a possible crisis. "In areas that could become isolated during the typhoon, sufficient rescue and communications equipment will be deployed in advance. We hope residents can cooperate with us," Chu said.

More than 24,000 troops were on standby for disaster relief and evacuations. 100 shelters and emergency response centers have been set up.

Authorities have warned that coastal areas could be particularly dangerous with tides rising high because of the "supermoon," which meant the moon had reached its closest orbital point to the earth and, therefore, had a stronger gravitational pull.

The super typhoon was bearing down on Japan earlier on Monday. Officials warned of strong winds, high waves and heavy rain. The storm was intensifying as it approached Taiwan, with winds reaching speeds of around 227 kilometers per hour.

This is the second typhoon to strike Taiwan in the last two months. Typhoon Soudelor left eight people dead in Taiwan and 21 in China when it struck last month.

mg/jil (AFP, dpa)