Thousands Evacuated, Flights Suspended as Taiwan Braces for Typhoon Haikui

Domestic flights have been canceled and nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated as Taiwan prepares for the arrival of Typhoon Haikui on Sunday, which is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the south and east of the island.

Haikui is expected to make landfall in the sparsely populated mountainous region far southeast of Taiwan late Sunday afternoon, and provinces and cities in the east and south canceled classes and declared the day off from work.

Haikui is a much weaker storm than Typhoon Saola, which hit Hong Kong and the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on Saturday.

The Taiwanese government said 2,868 people had already been evacuated from residential areas, mainly located in the south and east.

Taiwan's two major domestic airlines, Uni Air and Mandarin Airlines, canceled all flights on Sunday, and ferry services to surrounding islands were also cancelled.

The military has deployed soldiers and equipment to assist with flood relief and evacuation efforts.

After passing through southern Taiwan, Haikui is expected to cross the Taiwan Strait into China.