Typhoon Hagupit nears China's southern coast

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-23 07:14

FUZHOU -- Hagupit, the 14th typhoon to affect China this year, is poised for landfall in the southern Guangdong Province on Wednesday, meteorological stations in Fujian and Guangdong provinces warned on Monday.

The storm, which gained momentum to become a strong typhoon Monday afternoon, was located about 600 kilometers south of Xiamen in Fujian at 6 p.m.

It packed hurricane force winds at about 173 kilometers per hour in the center, said the observatory in Fujian.

The typhoon, which is moving at 20 to 25 km per hour, is forecast to churn ashore somewhere between Xuwen and Taishan in Guangdong on Wednesday morning.

The coastal cities of Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou of the neighboring Fujian Province should prepare for strong winds and heavy rains Tuesday.

The province should also experience high temperatures of 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.

Weather stations warned that Hagupit could move further inland in Guangdong, causing geological hazards and heavy agricultural losses.

Local governments ordered ships to seek harbor and fishermen stay ashore.

Hagupit would be the second typhoon in a week to affect Taiwan, Fujian and Guangdong, after typhoon Sinlaku lashed the region last Tuesday.