Typhoon Podul prompts schools and offices to close in Taiwan, with heavy rains expected

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Typhoon Podul prompted schools and government offices to close in Taiwan on Wednesday, with authorities on the lookout for heavy rains that could bring more damage to agriculture in the region.

It was unclear how serious the storm would be, with high waves and winds over much of the east coast but no major rain as of yet. On Wednesday morning, Podul was southeast of the island, moving at 155 kilometers (96 miles) per hour, and was expected to make landfall later in the day before moving swiftly across the island's southern tip, according to the Central Meteorological Agency.

Such storms typically hit the east coast hard before losing strength as they pass over the Central Mountain Range before continuing toward the Chinese coast. Podul's skirt measured 120 kilometers (75