Fierce winds ahead of the storm uprooted trees in the southeastern Taitung town and landslides triggered by torrential rains were reported on a highway in the county, rescue officials said.

The Central Weather Bureau urged residents in the southern part of the island to heighten their vigilance against strong winds and heavy rains from the storm.

At 11:00 am (0300 GMT) the eye of the storm was 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Eranpi, the southernmost tip of the island.

With a radius of 100 kilometers (60 miles), the storm was moving northwest at an hourly speed of 18 kilometers.

TERRA.WIRE