Thousands Evacuated As Typhoon Haikui Heads For Taiwan

Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from high-risk areas in eastern Taiwan ahead of Typhoon Haikui as authorities prepared Sunday for the first tropical storm to directly hit the island in four years.

Haikui -- which had already brought heavy rains by Sunday morning -- is packing a sustained wind speed of about 140 kilometres (39 miles) per hour, and is expected to make landfall in Taiwan's eastern Taitung area by 5:00 pm (0900 GMT).

Schools and offices around the southern and eastern parts of the island were closed Sunday, and more than 200 domestic flights cancelled.