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CALM BEFORE THE STORM: People in Taipei walking in light rain last night. Schools, offices and money markets will be closed ahead of Fung-Wong's arrival. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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TAIPEI - A TYPHOON in the Pacific Ocean - with wind gusts of 173 kmh - churned towards Taiwan yesterday, prompting local governments to close schools, offices and financial markets for today.
Typhoon Fung-Wong, Chinese for phoenix, was on course to make landfall early today in central Taiwan, the island's Central Weather Bureau said.
Schools, offices and stock and foreign exchange markets were ordered to stay shut today, while trains and flights have been partially suspended. Thousands of fishing boats also returned to port as rough sea warnings were issued.
Coast Guard officials said they were searching for a fishing boat which has been missing since last Friday near Matsu, a Taiwan-controlled island group off China's south-eastern Fujian province. On board are four Taiwanese men and a Chinese man.
The Maokong Gondola, a popular lift system outside Taipei, was shut down, while ferry services between the southern city of Kaohsiung and Penghu Island in the Taiwan Strait were halted.
Tropical Storm Risk said yesterday that Fung-Wong was a Category 2 storm, but could strengthen into a Category 3 one over the next 24 hours. A Category 3 storm is defined as one with winds of 178 to 210kmh.
From Taiwan, the storm is expected to cross over the Taiwan Strait and arrive in south China tomorrow.
Fung-Wong will be the second typhoon to hit Taiwan in the last two weeks. On July 18, typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 20 people and caused extensive flooding, landslides and crop damage in the south and central part of the island.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
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