Taiwan is bracing for strong winds and torrential rainfall as Typhoon Talim heads directly toward the island, according to news from Taipei.

Taiwan's central weather bureau said Talim, the 13th typhoon reported in the Pacific area this year, has a radius of 250 kilometers and a "solid" structure.

It is forecast to make landfall in eastern Taiwan, probably between the counties of Ilan and Hualien.

Packing winds of up to 184 kph, Typhoon Talim was located some 370 kilometers east-southeast of Hualien, moving in a west-northwest direction toward the island at a speed of 21 kph Wednesday morning.

The weather bureau called for the public to be on heightened alert against possible landslides and flash floods in mountainous areas and sudden rises in sea-water levels in low-lying coastal areas.

The weather bureau also said that a "red alert" has been issued for offshore areas.

Meanwhile, regional airlines said that flight to Taiwan may be canceled or delayed due to the bad weather. Hong Kong based airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, Dragonair urged passengers to check the flight on phone before departing to the airport.

Fujian, Zhejiang bracing for typhoon Talim

Both Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in east China have been busy preparing for typhoon Talim, which is expected to land on the two Chinese mainland regions Thursday afternoon.

The typhoon is moving northwest at a speed of 20 km to 25 km and might produce strong winds ranging from whole gales to hurricane in scale after sweeping through northern Taiwan Island late Wednesday night and early Friday, local meteorological departments warned.

Liu Dezhang, deputy governor of Fujian, declared his province was fully aware of the impending typhoon, the 13th of the year, and had made thorough preparation.

The provincial meteorological observatory of Fujian issued an alert against the typhoon early on Wednesday, warning of possible strong winds and torrential rains.

To avoid the typhoon, all fishing boats north of Chongwu have returned to their harbors and fisherfolk have all gone ashore, while schools in areas north of Quanzhou that will likely be assaulted head-on by the typhoon were told to postpone Autumn semester registration, which normally begins on Sept.1, said Liu.

In the meantime, local administrative departments have inspected projects under construction along the coast and have ordered suspended structures to be reinforced.

Residents have been evacuated from low-lying areas along the coast.

The local water resources department has also organized personnel to patrol seaside embankments, reservoirs and ponds, and watergates.

The provincial meteorological observatory of Zhejiang, Fujian's close neighbor in the north, also issued a similar alert, warning of possible landslides and mud-rock flows in coastal areas and southern parts of the province and urging preparation.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2005)