TERRA.WIRE
Typhoon Dujuan gains power as it sweeps towards Taiwan
TAIPEI (AFP) Aug 31, 2003
 Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau issued a warning Sunday for gale-force winds and torrential rains as Typhoon Dujuan gained momentum and approached the island.

"Typhoon Dujuan gained force over the past three hours," said a bureau official, with the typhoon expected to unleash heavy rains and strong winds.

Packing winds of up to 130 kilometers (98 miles) at its center, the typhoon was moving northwest at an hourly speed of 28 kilometers.

At 2:00 pm (0600 GMT) the eye of the typhoon was 280 kilometers east of Eranpi, the southernmost tip of the island.

The defense ministry announced it had postponed the "Han Kuang 19" (Han Glory) military exercises due from Monday to Thursday because of the approaching typhoon.

TERRA.WIRE