Typhoon Saudel strengthens on path to China's Hainan

Workers wearing protective masks to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus pulls plastic containers with debris washed ashore after tropical storm Saudel, locally called Pepito, hit the country on Oct. 21, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. - AP

HAIKOU (Xinhua): Saudel, the 17th typhoon to affect China this year, has escalated into a severe tropical storm and is heading toward south China's island province of Hainan, the local meteorological service said on Thursday (Oct 22).

The typhoon was observed over waters 430km east of Sansha City's Yongxing island in Hainan at 8am on Thursday, according to the provincial meteorological department.