Typhoon Sepat churns towards Taiwan after Manila

Typhoon Sepat, category 4 typhoon, is moving towards Taiwan with a speed of more than 180 kilometres per hour. The impact of the typhoon is expected to be the strongest on Saturday morning but it has already disrupted flights and ferry services on the island.

Taiwan issued a sea warning and told local fishermen to return to port as the storm gathered strength and moved towards its coast. Ships in the Bashi Channel or seas southeast of Taiwan should take extra precautions too. Schools have also closed. Residents in low-lying areas have prepared sandbags, and built walls to prevent water from entering their houses. Typhoon Sepat is expected to slam into the cities of Kaohsiung, and Taichung before hitting the mainland's coast.

Residents of Manila and northern Philippines braced for more flooding and possible landslides on Thursday as Typhoon Sepat gathered strength northeast of the archipelago en route to Taiwan.