Taiwan to close schools, offices as typhoon Chan-Hom nears

TAIPEI - Offices and schools across northern Taiwan, including Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan and Keelung, will be closed Friday in anticipation of the heavy rain and strong winds brought by Typhoon Chan-Hom.

Taiwan issued land and sea warnings on Thursday evening as the typhoon approached the island.

Chan-Hom is expected to sweep the sea areas north of Taiwan on Friday before heading on to the Chinese mainland.

As of 11:00 pm, the center of the typhoon was about 570 km east of Taipei, and moving northwest at a speed of 19 km per hour, according to the weather authority.

Several airlines had canceled or adjusted flights for Hong Kong and parts of Japan on Thursday evening and Friday.