Taiwan shuts schools and offices ahead of likely direct hit from powerful typhoon

Taiwan closed schools and offices and evacuated hundreds from vulnerable areas around the island Tuesday ahead of a strong typhoon expected to hit its densely populated western coast after lashing northern Philippine islands.

Dozens of flights were canceled and more than 500 people were moved from mountainous regions prone to landslides. Nearly 40,000 troops were mobilized to help with rescue efforts, according to the Defense Ministry.

Typhoon Krathon is expected to hit the major port city of Kaohsiung in the island's southwest on Wednesday morning then move across the center of Taiwan and northeast toward the East China Sea, according to the Central Weather Administration. It is expected to be felt in the capital, Taipei, on Wednesday and Thursday.

The mayor of Kaohsiung, a city of 2.7 million people, asked residents to stay indoors unless necessary and to avoid flood- and landslide-prone areas near rivers, the sea and the mountains. Up to 80 centimetres (31 inches) of rain was forecast in surrounding mountainous areas.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai said Krathon will be "no less powerful" than 1977's Typhoon Thelma, which devastated the city, leaving 37 dead and 298 injured.

Many stores and restaurants remained closed on Tuesday, while people stocked up on food, emptying supermarket shelves.

Typhoons rarely hit Taiwan's densely populated west coast, affecting instead the mountainous, eastern side of the island. In July, Typhoon Gaemi caused landslides and flooding, leaving at least 11 people dead.

Typhoon Krathon was moving slowly toward the island with maximum sustained winds of 198 km/h (123 mph) and gusts of up to 245 km/h (152 mph), according to the weather administration.

Taiwan's coast guard worked for several hours to rescue 19 sailors who had abandoned a cargo ship about 60 miles southeast of the eastern coastal city of Taitung. Crew members aboard Blue Lagoon were forced to abandon the vessel early Tuesday as it took on water in its engine room, the coast guard said.

A rescue helicopter went out three times to lift the sailors in groups of six or seven at a time. Another helicopter had to turn back at one point due to the wind and rain.

In the northern