Super typhoon Usagi disrupts cross-Strait traffic

Vessels move to a harbor in Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 21, 2013. China's national observatory on Saturday issued the highest level of alert for super typhoon Usagi which was expected to bring gales and rainfall to the coastal areas and land in Guangdong Province between Sept. 22-23. (Xinhua/Yao Jun)

Shipping transport between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan has been partially suspended as super typhoon Usagi strengthens over the Pacific and heads towards China's coast.

Most shipping lines from Xiamen City to Kinmen and all lines from Quanzhou City to Kinmen were canceled on Saturday.

Usagi is expected to hammer south China's Guangdong Province between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Usagi's center was 180 km southeast of Taiwan at 9 a.m. Saturday. It was moving northwest at a speed of up to 20 km per hour, said meteorological authorities.

The National Meteorological Center issued the highest level of alert for super typhoon Usagi, warning it will bring gales and rainfall to the southern and southeastern coastal areas.

The center said Usagi would bring strong storms to the east of Taiwan and coastal areas of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on Saturday and Sunday.

The National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center on Saturday also issued red alerts, the highest warning, for storm tides and waves as the super typhoon approached land.

The typhoon will trigger waves as high as ten meters in the northeastern part of the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, south of the East China Sea and waters around the Diaoyu Islands, as well as coastal areas of Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces from Saturday night to Sunday, the forecasting center said.

According to the latest warning issued by Taiwan's local meteorological authority, severe rainstorms and gales may occur in the island's eastern and southern regions.

Local authorities in several counties in the island suspended work and classes on Saturday.

The local government of Hualien County on Taiwan's east coast has ordered all residents in areas threatened by possible landslides to be relocated.

The local authority has suspended several train services in affected areas, including operations in the Ali Mountain area, a tourism attraction in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the government in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has issued alerts and officials in Hainan Province were told to step up their typhoon watch.