Typhoon forces school and work closures across southern, eastern Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) Schools and government offices in most areas of southern and eastern Taiwan will be closed on Wednesday due to Typhoon Podul, the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration announced Tuesday.

The affected regions are Tainan, Kaohsiung and Chiayi cities, and Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Hualien and Taitung counties, as well as offshore Penghu County.

According to the CWA, Typhoon Podul has picked up speed and strength as it approaches Taiwan, and the greatest impact is expected Tuesday night into Wednesday.

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the storm was located about 440 kilometers east-southeast of Taitung County, moving west-northwest at 27 km per hour, CWA data showed.

With a radius of 120 km, Podul is packing maximum sustained winds of 126 kph and gusts of up to 162 kph, according to the data.