Emergency response increased as Kai-Tak approaches

Tropical storm Kai-Tak has developed into typhoon with the national observatory raising its emergency response to Level II from IV.

The violent cyclone is heading towards the southeastern coast of China and is the 13th tropical storm of the year to batter the country.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) made the announcement at 9 a.m. on Thursday, following an orange alert issued three hours earlier, that Kai-Tak, 870 kilometers southeast from Zhanjiang City of coastal Guangdong Province developed into typhoon in the South China Sea.

According to the CMA, Kai-Tak, with a maximum wind speed of 33 meters a second, is heading for the southeastern coast by an hourly speed of 20 to 25 kilometers and is expected to land in Guangdong before noon on Friday.

Over the next 24 hours, Kai-Tak is forecasted to cause heavy rains and gales in coastal areas.

The southern part of Guangdong will be hit hardest as precipitation in some regions is expected to reach 250 to 300 millimeters, while areas of southern Fujian and Guangxi, most part of Guangdong, and northern Hainan will see strong downpours.

The CMA urged local governments to monitor possible flooding and landslides in mountainous districts, as well as helping evacuate people from dilapidated housing and halting massive rallies to avoid casualties.

It also asked local flood control authorities to call back ships and reinforce port facilities to mitigate economic losses.

Since the start of August, several typhoons, including Saola, Damrey and Haikui, have hit southeast China, leaving 51 dead and 21 missing, according to the country's Ministry of Civil Affairs.