TAIPEI, Taiwan — As Typhoon Kong-rey approached, the Taiwanese government took precautionary measures by closing schools and offices on Thursday. The typhoon is expected to bring severe weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rainfall, particularly affecting the eastern and northern regions of the island.

The storm was anticipated to hit land on Thursday evening, with sustained winds reaching up to 191 kilometers (53 miles) per hour and gusts peaking at 234 kilometers (145 miles) per hour. Regions such as Yilan and Hualien have already experienced significant flooding, but many agricultural workers had preemptively harvested their crops to minimize potential losses from the impending storm.

Thus far, there have been no reported injuries or substantial damage to property in Taiwan as a result of Typhoon Kong-rey. However, the storm has led to evacuations in certain areas of the northern Philippines, where residents sought safety in designated shelters on Wednesday.

In the capital city of Taipei, heavy rainfall and strong gusts were reported, leading to closures of various public services, educational institutions, and workplaces.

Additionally, China, which maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory, has reduced its military presence around the island. According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, only eight Chinese military aircraft were spotted in the area between Wednesday and Thursday, a notable decrease in usual activity.