Typhoon Haiyan approaches S China

A view of the damaged city near the airport after super Typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban city, central Philippines, Nov 9, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

HAIKOU - South China's Hainan province is expected to be hit by downpours on Saturday night as Typhoon Haiyan approaches, local authorities said.

Haiyan, the 30th and strongest typhoon to hit China this year, entered the South China Sea early on Saturday morning, after having wreaked havoc in the Philippines. It will move northwestward at a speed of 35 km per hour as it remains at such force, according to the Hainan provincial meteorological station.

All fishing boats were urged to return to ports by noon on Saturday.

The eastern and southern parts of Hainan as well as the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands are expecting strong winds and rainstorms, said the meteorological station.

The China National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center on Friday afternoon raised a warning for waves brought by the approaching typhoon from yellow to orange.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.