Taiwan closes schools and offices as typhoon approaches

A blown roof destroyed by the wind of Typhoon Kong-rey lies across a road in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan (Hualien County Fire Department/AP)

Schools and offices have been closed in Taiwan as a powerful typhoon approached on Thursday, bringing high winds and floods to much of the island’s east coast and northern areas.

Typhoon Kong-rey was expected to make landfall on Thursday evening and was blowing at 119mph with gusts of up to 145mph.