Airlines cancel more than 200 flights as Typhoon Maria nears Taiwan

Buildings are seen from a chartered China Airlines Ltd. aircraft after taking off from Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) – Taiwan warned businesses and schools to prepare for extreme conditions as Severe Typhoon Maria closes in on the island, disrupting flights and curtailing futures trading.

The typhoon could bring strong winds and heavy rains to northern and central Taiwan, Central Weather Bureau said in statement on Tuesday. Several local governments in the northern Taiwan including Taipei City, the island’s political and business capital, have announced closures of offices and schools from 4 p.m.