HANGZHOU, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The eastern Chinese provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian on Thursday raised the typhoon emergency response to Level III as Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year, moves closer to the country.
The Zhejiang provincial flood control headquarters has ordered to closely monitor the typhoon, and improve early warnings and evacuation of personnel from dangerous areas.
Typhoon Bavi was located over waters about 1,010 kilometers southeast of Keelung, Taiwan, at 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the Zhejiang meteorological service.
The typhoon is approaching the northeastern coast of Taiwan and is expected to make landfall along the coast between Fuqing in Fujian Province and Wenling in Zhejiang Province on Saturday night.
It was forecast to bring heavy rains and strong gales to Zhejiang Province.
As of 3 p.m. on Thursday, a total of 17,110 people had been evacuated across Zhejiang Province. A total of 4,509 emergency rescue teams with more than 170,000 rescuers have been placed on standby, ready to support typhoon prevention efforts.
Authorities in Fujian on Thursday also raised the typhoon emergency response to Level III, calling fishing boats and fishermen to return to ports.
Local authorities have also ordered to patrol reservoirs, mountain ponds, areas prone to geological disasters, and low-lying flood-prone spots amid efforts to brace for the typhoon.
