Taiwan orders markets, schools closed as strong typhoon approaches

A typhoon will hit northern Taiwan later on Monday, meteorologists said, shutting financial markets and schools as airlines canceled dozens of flights amid warnings of floods and high winds on the island. Typhoon Mitag, categorized by Taiwan’s weather bureau as the second-strongest typhoon level, was expected to approach the coast of the northeastern county of Yilan with maximum winds of 162 kmh. The bureau issued wind and rain warnings for greater Taipei, the northern port city of Keelung, and other northern counties. It also put out a warning to seafarers around Taiwan. Dozens of flights and ferry services were canceled, while several highways across the island were shut amid fears of landslides and floods. The typhoon was expected to approach China’s eastern city of Shanghai on Tuesday, forecasts showed.<br/>