All activities were suspended in vast areas in the southern and eastern parts of Taiwan today in anticipation of Typhoon "Podul", Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, specifying that hundreds of flights were canceled and nearly 5,000 people were evacuated.
The island is regularly hit by typhoons, especially along its sparsely populated, mountainous eastern coast, which faces the Pacific Ocean, the world agency said.
The moderate-level typhoon "Podul", accompanied by wind gusts reaching 191 kilometers per hour, headed for the southeastern city of Taitung and is expected to hit Taiwan today, meteorologists announced.
"The typhoon is expected to bring devastating storms. Find a sheltered place to stay", reads a text message sent to residents in the Taitung area this morning. Wind gusts of more than 150 km/h are forecast in the coming hours.
Nine cities and their surrounding regions have announced that there will be no work or school today. Authorities are also engaged in evacuating citizens whose homes were destroyed last month by Typhoon "Danas" that passed through the island at that time.