A creek in Taiwan's Hualien County burst its banks after the area was battered by heavy rains and strong winds as a tropical storm neared the island.

Excavators on Wednesday were seen attempting to control the waterway which began to overflow earlier this week as Taiwan was hit by the adverse weather with Fung-wong en route to the island.

The strong winds and flooding over the past few days also saw homes in Taitung County badly damaged.

Later on Wednesday Fung-wong made landfall in the south of the island.

Taiwan evacuated more than 8,300 people from coastal and mountainous areas and closed schools ahead of the storm's arrival.

Fung-wong had super typhoon strength when it battered the Philippines on Sunday, causing flooding, landslides, power outages and at least 27 deaths.

Still holding tropical storm strength Wednesday morning, it was expected to continue losing wind speed and size as it approached Taiwan.

Authorities evacuated 8,326 people, the majority from the eastern Hualien County, where a typhoon in September left 18 dead.

Schools and offices were closed in central and southern parts of Taiwan including the coastal cities of Kaohsiung, Taichung and Tainan as well as Pingtung, Chiayi and Miaoli counties.

The capital, Taipei, in the island’s north, operated as usual.

Authorities warned residents around the island to avoid going to the beach, where waves were expected to rise to about 3 to 5 meters (about 10 to 16 feet).

Signboards, fences and flowerpots were to be secured in anticipation of strong winds.