Red alert issued for super typhoon Maria

Storm expected to pass Taiwan, hit mainland early on Wednesday

China's meteorological authority has issued its first red alert of the year for a typhoon on Tuesday morning, with super typhoon Maria expected to hit Fujian and Zhejiang provinces with heavy rains and powerful winds on Wednesday.

Maria, packing winds of up to 216 kilometers per hour, is likely to breeze past Taiwan and lash the coastal areas of the southeastern Chinese mainland on Wednesday morning, especially between Xiapu and Fuqing in Fujian province, the China Meteorological Administration said.