Taipei - Taiwan shut down schools, businesses and air transport Saturday as Typhoon Sinlaku lashed the entire island with strong winds and torrential rains.

At least four passengers were injured when a south-bound bus rammed a polling station in the southwestern county of Touliu in the evening owing to poor visibility caused by pouring rains, police said.

An unoccupied three-story deserted wooden building in a traditional market in the central city of Taichung collapsed when it was hit by sweeping winds, police said.

Gusting at over 200 kilometres an hour, Sinlaku had yet to make landfall - yet the entire island was already under its influence, weathermen said.

They forecast landfall at around noon Sunday, by which time some 1,300 millimetres of rain would have fallen in northern and eastern Taiwan.

Flights at Taoyuan International airport and domestic airports across the island were suspended, resulting in some passengers being stranded.

Government authorities also ordered shutdowns of schools and workplaces, and advised people to stay indoors to avoid flying debris. the agriculture authorities warned against possible mud- and rockslides in 35 mountainous areas. (dpa)