China upgrades emergency response for Typhoon Lekima

BEIJING -- China has upgraded the emergency response to the upcoming Typhoon Lekima due to its strong intensity and potential impact.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters Friday afternoon lifted the response preparation from level III to level II, the second highest level in China's four-level typhoon emergency response system.

Lekima, the ninth typhoon of the year, is expected to land in the coastal areas of east China's Zhejiang on Saturday morning. It will potentially strike as a powerful or super typhoon with strong landing intensity, long duration and extensive impact.

From Friday to Saturday, Lekima is expected to bring heavy rain to the provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the municipality of Shanghai.

Over 3,200 fire fighters and commanders have been deployed at the typhoon relief front, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.