More than 120,000 people in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces had been evacuated as of Wednesday in preparation for the possible arrival of Talim, the 18th typhoon recorded in the region this year, Xinhua reported.

In Fujian, about 120,000 people and 20,000 fishing vessels were moved to safe locations, while nearly 2,000 scenic spots and construction sites were closed. In Zhejiang, more than 4,700 boats and thousands of people were relocated, the report said.

Fujian’s meteorological department forecast that Talim would intensify into a super typhoon with speeds of between 180km/h and 200km/h over the next two days.

Authorities in Taiwan issued a maritime warning and airlines cancelled some flights on Wednesday as the island braced for Talim’s arrival, which was expected to hit northern cities, including Taipei.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Doksuri recently formed to the west of the Philippines and was heading to Hainan province and expected to make a landfall about the same time as Talim.

“The areas to be affected by Talim are the most economically developed regions in our nation’s eastern coastline with large cities, high population density, tall buildings and plenty of industrial infrastructure,” the expert panel said in a statement released by Xinhua.

Talim was expected to gain in strength as it swept towards Taipei and other cities on Taiwan, lashing them with strong winds and heavy rain, the island’s Central Weather Bureau said.

ts greatest impact would be felt later on Wednesday and on Thursday, the bureau said on its website, when it was expected to slam into the north and northeast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 137km/h and gusts of up to 173km/h.

“Typhoon Talim has been changing course and is not entirely predictable. It’s been expected to hit Taiwan directly, but its trajectory has altered further northward and eastward,” Premier William Lai said.

“But at this point our emergency operation centre has not lowered its level of alert.”

It had not yet been determined whether the Taiwanese government would close financial markets, companies or schools on Thursday. An announcement would be made later on Wednesday if closures were considered necessary.

China Airlines and EVA Airways, Taiwan’s two largest carriers, said they would cancel some inbound and outbound international flights scheduled for later on Wednesday. A warning for sea traffic was also issued by the Central Weather Bureau.

Formosa Petrochemical Corporation, Taiwan’s second-biggest oil supplier, said it had prepared to close its supply port if necessary as Talim approached, although it was waiting for a government directive.

China’s National Meteorological Centre warned on Tuesday that Talim could intensify and turn into a super typhoon as it churned towards Taiwan and Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on the mainland.

As many as half a million people may need to be evacuated if the storm intensifies.