South China provinces brace for 16th typhoon of the year

HAIKOU -- The southern Chinese island province of Hainan Monday upgraded the typhoon emergency alert to Level III, the third-highest in the four-tier emergency response system, as the 16th typhoon of the year barrels toward land.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall on the east coast of Hainan Tuesday night, bringing heavy rains and strong winds of up to 102 km per hour, according to the provincial meteorological service.

At 2 pm Monday, the typhoon was 630 km east of the city of Wanning and was moving northwest at about 20 km per hour while strengthening.

Provincial flood control authorities have ordered more than 21,000 fishing boats to return to port and warned of geological disasters, floods in small and medium rivers and waterlogging in cities. Tourist attractions and public beaches in the affected areas have been closed.

Authorities in Guangdong province Monday activated Level IV emergency response to the typhoon, ordering all fishing boats to return to port and fish farm workers to go ashore.