At least one person was killed and 24 others injured by typhoon Talim, according to news from Taipei Thursday.

Due to the bad weather, schools, businesses, government offices and financial markets in most part of Taiwan are closed Thursday.

Taiwan's central weather bureau on Wednesday issued a "red alert" offshore and 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.

However, regional airlines said that flight to Taiwan may be resumed soon. Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific said that it will start to resume services from Hong Kong to Taipei Thursday afternoon as typhoon Talim weakens.

Flights between Taiwan, Macao canceled

Air Macao's flights from cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan to Macao were all canceled on Thursday due to the typhoon Talim, which is rocking the Chinese island province.

Staff on duty at Macao International Airport told Xinhua through telephone that Air Macao's flights taking off from Macao to the two cities in Taiwan will also "possibly" be delayed over the typhoon concern.

Air Macao and Macao International Airport both opened hotline telephone numbers through media for passengers to check needed information.

Macao operates daily passenger flights to and from cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Fujian on high alert

The provincial observatory of east China's Fujian Province issued at 6:20 AM Thursday the top level black alarm signal against the imminent Typhoon Talim.

According to a report released by the observatory, as of 7:00 AM, the center of Talim was at sea about 260 kilometers southeast to the city of Fuqing.

The typhoon is expected to land on the area between Fujian's Lianjiang and Jinjiang Thursday afternoon or night, said the observatory.

Affected by Talim, the province's capital Fuzhou saw moderate to fresh gales and heavy rains early Thursday.

The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters have relocated 286,000 people and organized disaster relief teams for emergencies.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2005)