Taiwan issues typhoon warning

TAIPEI (Reuters) - A typhoon will hit Taiwan late on Thursday, sparking land and sea advisories and becoming the island's first major storm of the year before moving on to China, weather forecasters said. Typhoon Kalmaegi, which was 180 km (112 miles) southeast of Taiwan at 0030 GMT (1:30 British time), will reach the northeast coast at about 1500 GMT (4 p.m. British time) with sustained winds of 101 kph (63 mph) and gusts of 126 kph, the island's Central Weather Bureau said. The bureau issued wind and rain warnings for greater Taipei, the northern port city of Keelung and three other counties. It also warned boats off the south and east coasts. "Rain will strengthen from Thursday morning in typhoon-affected areas," the bureau said in a statement on its website, www.cwb.gov.tw. "In eastern Taiwan, wind-blown waves will get... [read full story]