Typhoon Nepartak tears across Pacific Ocean towards Taiwan as thousands are evacuated

More than 35,000 soldiers are currently on standby to help with disaster relief and evacuations

NASA sateillite image shows Typhoon Nepartak as it approaches Taiwan and the Philippines (AP)

Thousands of tourists have been evacuated from Taiwan's outlying islands as "Super Typhoon" Nepartak races across the Pacific.

Typhoon Nepartak is bringing winds of up to 163mph and a rain diameter of 403 miles.

Dozens of flights have been cancelled while a number of Taiwanese schools and offices have been closed.

Nearly 60 international flights will be affected, Taipei's two main airports have declared.

More than 35,000 soldiers are currently on standby to help with disaster relief and evacuations, the Guardian reports.

Taiwanese officials warning of flooding and mudslides when the heavy rain and powerful wind hits the island.

After touching down in Taiwan on Friday 8 July, the typhoon is expected to carry onto China later the same day.

A wave collides with the Taiwanese coastline as typhoon Nepartak moves towards the island (EPA)

Senior forecaster Chen Yi-liang told AFP: "As the typhoon kept gaining strength and approaching Taiwan over the past three hours, the Central Weather Bureau decided to issue a sea warning at 14:30 local time (06:30 GMT)

"Residents must heighten their vigilance."

In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck central Philippines leaving 7,300 dead and missing, displacing more than five million others.

In China, severe local flooding following heavy rain has already killed 186 people and 45 missing since 1 July, according to China Daily News.

The typhoon is now expected to exacerbate the situation, which has been described as the worst flooding since 1998.