Taipei: 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 regions affected by these closures include Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Chiayi cities, as well as Yunlin, Chiayi, Pingtung, Hualien, and Taitung counties, along with the offshore Penghu County.

According to Focus Taiwan, Typhoon Podul has increased in both speed and strength as it approaches Taiwan, with the most significant impact anticipated from Tuesday night into Wednesday. As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the storm was situated approximately 440 kilometers east-southeast of Taitung County, advancing west-northwest at a speed of 27 km per hour, based on the data from the Central Weather Administration (CWA).

The typhoon, with a radius of 120 kilometers, is generating maximum sustained winds of 126 kph and gusts reaching up to 162 kph, as reported by CWA data. As the storm approaches, residents and authorities in the affected regions are urged to take necessary precautions to ensure safety and minimize potential damage.