TAIPEI, Aug 31 (Reuters) – Taiwan officials issued land and sea warnings on Tuesday for a severe tropical storm, the island’s first this year, with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 90 kph (60 mph) expected before it heads to China.

Although the storm falls one level short of a full-blown typhoon, Taiwan authorities have been particularly cautious since a typhoon last year — the worst in 50 years — killed about 700 people after initially being categorised as relatively weak storm.

That prompted a cabinet reshuffle as citizens accused the government of reacting too slowly.

The storm dubbed Namtheun, was expected to reach northern areas of the island by late Tuesday with sustained winds of up to 65 kph (40 mph), the Central Weather Bureau said on its website (www.cwb.gov.tw)..    [FULL STORY]