China warns of huge waves and storm surges as Typhoon Champi nears East Coast

China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center issued an orange wave alert and a blue storm surge alert on Friday afternoon as Typhoon Champi approached the East China Sea coast. In the country's four-tier warning system, red represents the severest level, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

The Ministry of Natural Resources placed Zhejiang and Fujian under a Level III marine disaster emergency response on Friday — the third-highest in its four-tier system.

From Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, nearshore waters off Zhejiang and northern Fujian are expected to see huge waves of 4 to 5.5 meters. Off southern Fujian province, waves of 3.5 to 4.4 meters are forecast, while nearshore waters off Shanghai are expected to experience waves of 2.5 to 3.4 meters, the center said.

Due to the combined effect of a cold air mass, it is expected that coastal areas from Shanghai to Fujian will experience storm surge water level increases of 60 to 120 centimeters during the period, it added.

The center cautioned vessels in affected waters to take safety precautions. Coastal authorities are urged to make emergency preparations, including reinforcing aquaculture facilities and fishery port infrastructure.