China initiates emergency response for Typhoon Soudelor

BEIJING - China's maritime authority on Friday initiated a level-II emergency response to cope with huge waves and rainstorms as Typhoon Soudelor approaches the country's southeastern regions.

The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) predicted that Typhoon Soudelor, the 13th this year, will make landfall in Fujian and neighboring Zhejiang Province late on Saturday.

There will be typhoon-induced waves with a height maximum of 12 meters off Taiwan's east coast, while waves off Zhejiang and Fujian coast will reach 3.8 meters, the SOA forecast.

Local governments in Zhejiang and Fujian should launch a 24-hour monitoring of the typhoon and make timely public announcements, the SOA said.

They are also required to assess the possible damages by the typhoon and initiate disaster relief operations.

China has a four-level Typhoon emergency response system, with level-I calling for a top emergency response, while level-IV represents the lowest.