A typhoon bringing strong winds and torrential rainfall is slowly advancing toward Taiwan, where thousands have been evacuated from vulnerable low-lying or mountainous terrain.

Taiwan shut down on Wednesday with hundreds of flights cancelled and offices, schools and financial markets closed ahead of the arrival of a weakening Typhoon Krathon, which is forecast to bring storm surges along the coast and torrential rain.

The storm has already injured 46 people and forced thousands of evacuations, the authorities said, warning that torrential rain could cause landslides and flooding.