Measures are taken to protect trees from the strong typhoon in Hangzhou, Zhejiang on Aug 8. [Photo/IC]

Red alert issued as powerful Lekima churns its way toward Zhejiang province

A strong typhoon is forecast to either hit the coastal areas of East China's Zhejiang province or move northward along the coast on Saturday, according to China National Meteorological Center.

As of 8 am on Friday, Typhoon Lekima was 280 kilometers from southeast Yuhuan county, Zhejiang province, with wind speeds reaching 58 meters per second at its center.

It's estimated that Lekima will travel northwest at a speed of 15 km/h. It is expected to make landfall at a coastal area in Zhejiang province on Friday night or Saturday morning.

The National Meteorological Center renewed its red alert at 6 am on Friday.

Red is the most severe in China's four-tier color-coded weather warning system.

The center also said that Lekima, the ninth typhoon of the year, strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night but will be downgraded by the time it reaches Zhejiang.

Heavy rains will fall on Taiwan, central and eastern Zhejiang, Shanghai, eastern Jiangsu, eastern Shandong and Liaodong peninsulas, through Sunday.

Meteorologists suggest potentially affected areas strengthen safety inspections of coastal dikes, rivers and lakes and be prepared to prevent urban floods, landslides and other geological disasters. Ships and offshore platforms should be evacuated in advance, and tourist attractions near the sea, islands or mountains should be closed.

Huang Ming, Party chief of the Ministry of Emergency Management, led a video conference on Thursday in Beijing to organize preparations for the typhoon.

He said that monitoring should be enhanced to issue early warnings. Also, residents - especially those living in old communities, construction sites, tourist attractions and places easily affected by geographic hazards - should be transported to safe shelters.