BATTLE-READY: More than 34,000 soldiers, including 135 marines and special forces members, and 5,100 military vehicles and equipment were on standby

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 01, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Typhoon Mitag yesterday strengthened as it approached Taiwan, bringing strong winds and torrential rains, which are expected to affect the northern and northeastern parts of the country until today, the Central Weather Bureau said.

As of 8:30pm yesterday, Mitag was about 110km southeast of the coast of Yilan County, with its radius covering the nation’s eastern and southeastern land mass.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 126kph, with gusts of up to 162kph, and moving at 25kph per hour north-northwest, the bureau said.

The storm was forecast to pass closer to the north and northeast of Taiwan than earlier predicted, it added.

Yesterday morning, the northern half of Taiwan, Nantou County, areas north of Taichung, Taitung County and the Matsu Islands were already being affected by the outer band of the typhoon, it said.    [FULL  STORY]