China issues emergency response as 19th typhoon threatens southern regions

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV emergency response for typhoon and flood prevention in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Guangdong and Hainan provinces at 8 pm on Friday.

The tropical depression over the Beibu Gulf intensified into the 19th typhoon of this year on Friday afternoon. The typhoon is expected to linger and move slowly over the Beibu Gulf waters from Friday night through Sunday, with intensity gradually strengthening and potentially reaching the level of a severe tropical storm.

Under the combined influence of the typhoon and the southwest monsoon, heavy to torrential rain is forecast for Hainan, southern Guangxi and coastal areas of Guangdong over the next three days, with some regions expected to experience downpours.

The National Meteorological Center issued a blue typhoon alert and a blue rainstorm alert at 6 pm on Friday.

China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most severe.