Tropical Storm Trami heads for Taiwan after battering Philippines; heavy rain expected

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Severe Tropical Storm Trami is bearing down on heavily populated northern Taiwan, prompting schools and offices to close. Up to 2 feet of rain is expected in some areas, and landslides could occur across the island.

At 11:30 a.m. Wednesday (0330 GMT), the Central Weather Bureau said the storm was 210 kilometers (132 miles) east of Taiwan's northern tip, packing sustained winds of 108 kph (68 mph) and gusts up to 137 kmh. It's expected to pass just north of the capital of Taipei after nightfall.

Earlier this week Trami wreaked havoc in the Philippines, causing eight deaths and severely flooding wide swaths of Manila.

In Taiwan, forecasters expect up to 300 mm (12 inches) of rain to fall in Taipei, and perhaps twice that amount in the south.