China issues emergency alerts as Typhoon Kajiki nears Hainan

China has activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding and typhoon in Hainan Province as Typhoon Kajiki, the 13th typhoon of the year is approaching towards southern coast of Hainan Island. The provincial meteorological bureau on Saturday said the centre of the typhoon was located around 650 km east of Hainan’s Sanya City over the sea. According to meteorological authorities, it is forecast to move westward at a speed of up to 25 km per hour with its intensity expected to strengthen significantly. China's National Meteorological Center on Saturday issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Kajiki, warning that it is likely to make landfall or pass close to the southern coast of Hainan Island around Sunday evening.

Parts of Hainan Island, and the Xisha Islands and the Zhongsha Islands were expected to see heavy to torrential rainfall from Saturday to Sunday, it said. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response, and a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. A total of 918 emergency rescue teams, involving 7,741 people, were deployed by departments such as power supply, telecommunications, and drainage.