China issues disaster warning ahead of super typhoon Megi

October 18th 2010

China on Monday issued an early disaster warning ahead of the arrival of super typhoon Megi, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The warning was activated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Disaster Relief Commission which despatched urgent updates to the civil affairs departments in the southern regions, especially those along the coastline.

China's disaster relief regulators believe that Megi may be the strongest typhoon to hit Asian countries this year and is expected to reach the eastern South China Sea by Tuesday midnight. Megi, which means catfish in Korean, will bring strong winds and rain to 4 regions in the southern coast.

Civil affairs departments in Hainan, Guangdong, Guanxi and Fujian were ordered to closely monitor the typhoon, take precautionary measures against possible geological disasters and flooding in cities. They were also ordered to ensure that people in risk areas are evacuated on time.

Megi is the thirteenth typhoon of the year. During the early hours of Monday, the typhoon made landfall in Philippines with winds of up to 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour. At least three individuals were killed, including one individual who was swept into a river.