Taipei, June 28 (CNA) The Central Weather Bureau issued a sea warning early Thursday for Tropical Storm Doksuri, but said the chances of the storm hitting Taiwan directly are low.

The bureau said it is likely that Doksuri, the sixth storm of the 2012 Pacific typhoon season, will cross the Bashi Channel between the Philippines and Taiwan and head toward Hong Kong without making landfall on Taiwan.

However, the bureau said rain and wind is expected, especially in eastern and southern areas of the country, later in the day.

Doksuri's outer rim could also bring showers to other areas in Taiwan overnight, when the storm is expected to be closest to the island, the bureau said.

As of 5:30 a.m. that day, Doksuri was centered 610 km southeast of Taiwan's southernmost tip.

It was moving at 23 kph in a west-northwesterly direction, packing maximum sustained winds of 72 kph, with gusts reaching 101 kph.

Based on Doksuri's current track, its effects on Taiwan are expected to fade around June 30, the bureau said.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
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