Heavy rains and high winds lashed Taiwan on Thursday as the largest storm to hit the island in nearly three decades made landfall along its southeast coast, killing at least one person and injuring dozens.

Classes and offices have been closed in Taiwan as a powerful typhoon approaches, bringing high winds and floods to much of the island's east coast.

Taiwan cleared up and offices and financial markets re-opened on Friday after the powerful Typhoon Kong-rey swept through the island causing two deaths and snarling transport, as the remnant of the storm brushed the Chinese coast.

The storm prompted closures and raised the risk of landslides as it approached the island. It was expected to hit as the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane.

Authorities in Taiwan are warning residents along its eastern coast to brace for the impacts Super Typhoon Kong-rey, which has rapidly intensified as it barrels towards the island after bashing the Philippines.

A strong Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall on Taiwan's east coast on Thursday, the largest storm by size to hit the island in nearly 30 years, closing financial markets, causing hundreds of flights to be cancelled and reducing rail services.

This picture provided by the Hualien County Fire Department via Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) on October 31, 2024 shows a firefighter beside a roof blown away due to strong winds and rain from Super Typhoon Kong-rey in Hualien County.

A Super Typhoon is headed towards the island nation of Taiwan and intensifying prior to impact, according to reports.

Taiwan has suspended trading on its $2.5 trillion stock market as residents brace for a direct hit from Super Typhoon Kong-Rey, one of the biggest storms to strike the island this late in the year.

Five-metre waves pounded Taiwan's shores Wednesday as Super Typhoon Kong-rey drew near, with forecasters expecting the storm to strengthen before hitting the island as one of the most powerful in years.