Taiwan issues warning over latest storm

Taipei: Taiwan suspended ferry services in its southeast on Tuesday as weather forecasters issued a warning about Tropical Storm Kong-Rey, a week after the island was battered by strong winds and torrential rains.

The Central Weather Bureau urged the public to take precaution against downpours even though the storm was not likely to make landfall. The warning prompted authorities to cancel ferries between Taitung and two offshore scenic spots, Green Island and Orchid Island, Taitung county government officials said. As of 11.30 in the morning, the storm was 430 kilometres southeast of the island`s southern tip, the bureau said. Packing gusts of 101 kilometres per hour, Kong-Rey was moving north-northwest at 13 kilometres per hour, it said. Tropical Storm Trami hit Taiwan last week, forcing authorities to close offices and cancel nearly 200 international flights. AFP