CNN \u2014 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorities in Taiwan are warning residents along its eastern coast to brace for the impacts Super Typhoon Kong-rey, which has rapidly intensified as it barrels towards the island after bashing the Philippines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kong-Rey, moving northwest over the Philippine Sea, reached super typhoon strength on Wednesday, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). With winds of 240 kph (150 mph), this storm is the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The powerful typhoon is forecast to make landfall early Thursday (Wednesday evening ET) in Taitung, a sparsely populated county on Taiwan\u2019s mountainous southeastern coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the typhoon continues to move towards the northwest, almost the whole of Taiwan will be covered by the storm circle later tonight,\u201d meteorologist Chu Mei-lin, with the island\u2019s weather agency, said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued a sea warning Tuesday as the storm drew closer. On Wednesday, it also issued a land warning for two southern counties expected to be hit by the storm\u2019s outer bands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe urge everyone to make preparations accordingly,\u201d Chu warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chu added that waves could reach up to eight meters high when the typhoon makes landfall. There will also be heavy rainfall across Taiwan on Thursday, including in Taipei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taiwan generally has a strong track record of responding to major typhoons though remote villages in more mountainous regions can be particularly vulnerable to landslides. Earlier this month, Typhoon Krathon<\/a>, killed four people as it brought particularly heavy rains to the south of the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n