`Super Typhoon` Dujuan nears Taiwan Monday Sep 28,2015

 

Evacuations were stepped up in Taiwan Monday Sep 28,2015 as `super typhoon` Dujuan swirled towards the island, gathering strength on its approach to the east coast.

More than 24,000 troops are on standby for disaster relief and evacuations, with 100 shelters set up. Emergency response centres have been established in the north and east

Torrential rains and high winds are forecast across Taiwan from Monday afternoon, with landfall predicted around 11:00 pm (1500 GMT)

Crashing waves were already battering the northeastern coast by midday and fishing boats have been called back to shore.

Taiwan`s weather bureau upgraded Dujuan to a "strong typhoon" Sunday -- its top category.

Dujuan was 170 kilometres off the coast of eastern Hualien County at noon Monday (0400 GMT)