Taiwan battens down the hatches as 150mph super typhoon Nepartak nears

People in Taiwan are being warned to brace themselves for the arrival of super typhoon Nepartak. They are being urged to take cover as fierce winds and torrential rain are expected to batter the island from Thursday evening. Dozens of flights have been cancelled and some schools and offices closed in preparation for the category five storm. Thousands of tourists have been evacuated from Green Island and Orchard Island, small islands off the east coast of Taiwan. Officials are also warning of the risk of flooding and landslides as the rain arrives.

I am worried about it, same as everyone here

Fisherman Chen Chun-po

Gusts of up to 245kmh (152mph) - have been recorded as Nepartak rumbles towards the eastern county of Hualien, according to the Central Weather Bureau. Forecasters said waves up to 24ft (7.3m) could batter the coast, inland lakes and beachfront areas. Big waves are already hitting the shore of the nearby Ilan port city, where fishermen have been told to secure their boats. Taiwan is often hit by typhoons, but Nepartak is the first major tropical storm of this season.

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