Domestic flights had been cancelled and nearly 3,000 individuals had been evacuated as Taiwan girded for the arrival of Typhoon Haikui on Sunday, which is anticipated to convey torrential rain and robust winds to the island’s south and east.

Haikui is forecast to make landfall within the mountainous and sparsely populated far southeast of Taiwan late Sunday afternoon, with counties and cities within the east and south cancelling courses and declaring a break day for employees.

Haikui is a a lot weaker storm than Typhoon Saola which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Saturday. Haikui is anticipated to be solely a Category 1 or 2 hurricane when it hits Taiwan, in response to Tropical Storm Risk.

Taiwan’s authorities stated that 2,868 individuals had already been evacuated from settlements primarily within the south and east.

Taiwan’s two important home airways, UNI Air and Mandarin Airlines, cancelled all flights on Sunday, whereas ferry providers to offshore islands had been cancelled as properly.

There was much less disruption to worldwide flights, with solely 25 cancelled for Sunday.

The army has mobilised troopers and gear to assist with flood aid and evacuation efforts.

After passing throughout southern Taiwan, Haikui is forecast to cross the Taiwan Strait into China.