Taipei  - Taiwan issued a land warning Thursday as Typhoon Morakot closed in on the island.

Morakot increased its speed and intensity since late Wednesday on its way from the Pacific Ocean to Taiwan's east coast.

By 1 pm (0500 GMT), the eye of Morakot was 500 kilometres south-east of Ilan on Taiwan's north-eastern coast, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Moving in a westerly direction at 20 kilometres per hour (kph), Morakot packs centre winds of 137 kph and gusts of 173 kph.

If Morakot maintains its present course, it is expected to cross Taiwan Friday night and make landfall at Fujian on China's south-east coast on Saturday, the bureau said.

As Morakot brought sporadic rains to north-east Taiwan, the island suspended shipping links to offshore islets and ordered fishing boats to remain in port.

Morakot is expected to cause damage to crops and fruits, but it will bring plentiful rainfall to ease the island's water shortage.