In the Philippines capital Manila, trading was suspended on the stock exchange, government offices closed and classes were canceled as torrential downpours left some areas under several inches of water.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Kaemi, packing maximum sustained winds of 139 kilometers (86 miles) an hour, was due to make landfall in southeast Taiwan early Tuesday, according to the Hong Kong observatory.

At 1200 GMT, Kaemi -- meaning 'ant' in Korean -- was centered about 200 kilometers east of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, moving toward the island at about 20 kilometers an hour, the observatory said.

The typhoon was then expected to head for mainland China, with southeastern Fujian province deploying some 3,000 armed police as it braced for more devastation after Tropical Storm Bilis, which struck just 10 days ago.

Taiwan was already starting to feel the effects of the massive storm, with shipping traffic suspended in the southeast and airlines cancelling flights to eastern destinations, authorities said.

Domestic flights were to be cancelled on Tuesday, in anticipation of a direct hit, aviation officials said. Financial authorities said they had not yet decided whether to close the stock market.

Hundreds of villagers were evacuated from a mountainous area in southeastern Taitung county as a precautionary measure amid fears of landslides triggered by heavy downpours, emergency personnel said.

Fishermen sought shelter in protected harbors, as the weather bureau warned residents in low-lying areas to take precautions against torrential rains and heavy winds generated by Kaemi, which has a radius of 200 kilometers.

"The typhoon has gained momentum. Residents in the east should especially heighten their vigilance," Lu Kuo-chen, an official at the bureau, told reporters.

Residents in mountainous regions were told to watch out for mudslides, while those on the coastlines were asked to avoid beaches. Television footage showed shopowners on the east coast securing their signs and windows.

In China, both Fujian and neighboring Zhejiang province were bracing for the arrival of Kaemi, Xinhua news agency reported.

Some 3,000 armed police equipped with speed boats, life vests and waterproof lights have been deployed in Fujian province to conduct any eventual rescue and relief operations, the agency said.

All vessels were ordered back to shore, and local authorities have been advised to monitor the safety of people living in makeshift shelters at coal mines and in mountainous areas, the agency said.

Local governments have also been ordered to boost patrols along reservoirs and dams in preparation for flooding.

Bilis killed at least 612 in China, 14 in the Philippines and three in Taiwan earlier this month. More than 200 people are still listed as missing in China, according to a new toll issued Monday.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited storm-ravaged villages in Hunan province on Sunday, amid accusations that local officials tried to hide the true death toll.

A total of 1,345 people have died and 306 were missing from weather-related incidents in China from May to July 21, according to official figures.

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