Typhoon Podul makes landfall in eastern Taiwan

TAIPEI, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Typhoon Podul made landfall in eastern Taiwan's Taitung County at around 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, bringing severe storms to Hualien and Taitung, according to the local meteorological agency.

The agency continued to issue both sea and land warnings for Podul on Wednesday. At noon, its central pressure was 945 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds reaching 43 meters per second near the center.

The land warning covers 13 counties and cities, including Hualien, Taitung and Miaoli, while the sea warning applies to the waters off eastern Taiwan, the Bashi Channel, the Taiwan Strait and waters near Dongsha Island.

Rainfall is currently heaviest in eastern Taiwan and mountainous areas, the agency said, noting that as the typhoon moves westward, the rain will also spread from east to west -- with the heaviest rainfall expected in the latter half of Wednesday.

Due to the typhoon, railway services and flights were disrupted on the island, while many counties and cities suspended work and classes on Wednesday. ■