A man carrying his child wades through floodwater on a flooded road in Panyu District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province, Sept 8, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – China's national observatory Saturday continued to issue a yellow alert, the third highest in a four-colored warning system, as Typhoon Koinu is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to its southeastern regions.

Typhoon Koinu, the 14th typhoon of this year, was located around 190 km south of Shanwei City in Guangdong province at 1 pm, packing winds of up to 173 km per hour near its center, according to the National Meteorological Center.

The center said the typhoon is traveling westward at a speed of 5-10 km per hour, with its strength likely to gradually weaken.

READ MORE: Typhoon Koinu set to hammer Guangdong

Affected by the typhoon, parts of Fujian and Guangdong provinces will be lashed by heavy rain or rainstorms on Saturday and Sunday, while some coastal regions in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces will experience strong gales.

The center advised local authorities to prepare for the typhoon by ordering ships to return to ports, suspending outdoor activities, and remaining on high alert for possible floods and geological disasters.  

Disruption of return trips

Koinu has affected travelers returning home after the eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday in the coastal provinces of east and south China, according to local meteorological departments.

Due to the combined impact of cold air and Typhoon Koinu, wind, and rain have impacted the provinces of Guangdong and Fujian, posing transportation obstacles to those making return trips.

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The meteorological authorities of Fujian warned that heavy rainfall from the typhoon had resulted in slippery roads and poor visibility. Specific segments of roads in the southern coastal regions of Fujian have higher risks.