MAS CANCELS FLIGHTS INTO AND OUT OF TAIPEH DUE TO TYPHOON SINLAKU

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airlines has cancelled its flights into and out of Taiwan due to Typhoon Sinlaku.
Its director of operations, Tajuden Abu Bakar, said the cancelled
flight for today were MH94 Kuala Lumpur/Taipeh/Los Angeles, MH68 Kuala Lumpur/
Kota Kinabalu/Taipeh and MH69 Taipeh/Kota Kinabalu/Kuala Lumpur.
He said Flight MH69 Taipeh/Kota Kinabalu/Kuala Lumpur scheduled for
Sunday is also cancelled.
Passengers could call Malaysia Airlines at its toll-free 24-hour Call
Centre at 1 300 88 3000 for updates.
In Taipeh, passengers can call +886 338 34855 and in Los Angeles +1 310 646
9376.
Schools and businesses closed Saturday in Taiwan and residents stocked up
on food as powerful Typhoon Sinlaku churned toward northern Taiwan and the
heavily populated capital of Taipei.
According to foreign media reports, heavy rains and high winds were already
pummeling the city. About 64km to the northeast, fishing boats and other
craft headed for shelter as large waves pounded the coast near the port city of
Yilan.
At 9.15am local time, Typhoon Sinlaku was centered about 118km
northeast of Hualien in eastern Taiwan, packing sustained winds of 171km/h, the
island's Central Weather Bureau reported.
If Sinlaku stays on course, it is expected to make landfall in northern
Taiwan on Sunday morning, the reports said.
Typhoons frequently hit Taiwan between July and September, often causing
casualties in mountainous regions prone to landslides and flash floods.