Taiwan closes schools, offices ahead of island-wide typhoon

A woman struggles with her umbrella against powerful gusts of wind generated by typhoon Megi across the the island in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. AP

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan closed schools and offices as a large typhoon with 162 kilometers- (100 miles-) per-hour winds approached the mountainous island Tuesday.

Authorities raised alert levels because Typhoon Megi’s bands of wind and rain were expected to cover the entire island, which is prone to landslides and flooding, said National Fire Agency Director-General Chen Wen-lung.

Megi was expected to make landfall in the evening and pass over the island’s steep central mountain range during the night.

READ: Typhoon ‘Helen’ nears landfall in Taiwan

The Central Weather Bureau said Megi is 500 kilometers (310 miles) in diameter and its winds will gust up to 198 kilometers per hour.

Chen said that as of Tuesday morning 5,336 people were evacuated from mountainous areas that are prone to landslides and flooding. More than half went to shelters and the rest to the homes of family or friends, Chen said. Schools and offices were closed across the island.

Megi is the fourth typhoon of the year to hit Taiwan.

Flights were canceled at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport, while high-speed rail and most other trains also stopped operations.

On the Chinese coast, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Taiwan, fishing boats were ordered back to port.