Thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of flights cancelled as Typhoon Podul approaches southern Taiwan with wind gusts as strong as 191 kph.

The mid-strength Typhoon Podul was heading for the southeastern city of Taitung as it intensified and was expected to make landfall by today afternoon.

According to weather report, after making landfall, the storm is expected to hit Taiwan’s more densely populated western coast before moving into the Taiwan Strait and towards China’s southern province of Fujian.

Over 600mm of rainfall has been forecast in the country’s southern mountainous areas.