Taipei  - Taiwan on Saturday issued a sea warning for typhoon Parma, which is expected to affect Taiwan after hitting the Philippines.

Parma follows typhoon Morakot which hit Taiwan on August 8, killing 178 people in floods and mudslides.

President Ma Ying-jeou was forced to reshuffle the cabinet after the goverment faced criticism over its slow reaction to the damaged caused by Morakot. Premier Liu Chao-shiuan resigned to take responsibility for delayed evacuation of mountain villagers.

On Saturday morning, Ma flew to southern Taiwan to inspect anti-typhoon measures as the military began to evacuate mountain residents.

He ordered all ministers to cancel their holiday plans for the Chinese Moon Festival to visit south and east Taiwan to check the preparations for the typhoon.

By 8 am (0000 GMT) Saturday, the eye of Parma was 550 kilometres south-east of Taiwan's southern tip Erlunpi, the Central Weather Bureau said.

Moving in a north-westerly direction at 13 kilometres per hour (kph), Parma packs centre winds of 155 kph and gusts of 191 kph.

The bureau expects Parma to move into the Bashih Channel separating Taiwan and the Philippines on Sunday, after the storm has crossed Luzon, the Philippines' main island.

However, Parma's movement could be affected by typhoon Melor which is moving parallel to Parma to its north and is headed towards Japan. (dpa)