Taiwan braced for powerful typhoon

TAIPEI (AFP) - The powerful typhoon Sepat was heading for Taiwan yesterday after paralysing the Philippine capital Manila, Taiwanese meteorologists said.

Sepat was packing winds of up to 191 kilometres (119 miles) per hour and could hit Taiwan some time between late Friday night and early Saturday morning given its current course, the Central Weather Bureau said.

It also warned fishermen to take appropriate precautions as the typhoon neared. Thousands of fishing boats sought shelters at ports.

"I would like to urge the public to heighten their vigilance as this typhoon keeps gaining momentum," a bureau official said.

The typhoon had a radius of 250 kilometres and its centre was 640 kilometres southeast of southern Taitung city at 08:00 pm (1200 GMT), the bureau said, adding the typhoon was moving northwest at 20 kilometres per hour.

Sepat would be the third storm to hit Taiwan in barely two weeks.

The most recent, tropical storm Pabuk, made landfall on Wednesday last week leading to heavy rain, flooding and landslides.

Sepat, which has already lashed the Philippines, paralysed Manila on Wednesday, flooding roads and forcing schools and offices to shut.

Philippine authorities also issued landslide and flood alerts yesterday as the typhoon headed towards the northern tip of the country.