China on Sunday issued a blue typhoon warning for Tropical Storm Fengshen, which is expected to strengthen into a severe tropical storm or even a typhoon.
Fengshen is currently classified as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 82 kilometers per hour and a wind field extending 220 to 280 kilometers from the center.
If Fengshen strengthens into a typhoon, wind speeds are expected to reach 126 kilometers per hour.
Seven killed in the Philippines
The warning from Chinese authorities came after seven deaths were reported in the northern and central Philippines (where the storm is known as Ramil) over the weekend as Fengshen hit the region, the 18th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year.
Five of these deaths occurred in Calabarzon (Southern Tagalog), while two were reported from Region 6 (Western Visayas).
Two people were also missing from Western Visayas while one injured was reported from Calabarzon.
As many as 37,852 families were affected by the storm over the weekend, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in a report.
Forecast for Tropical Storm Fengshen
With Fengshen now moving away from the Philippines, China has issued a blue alert, the lowest level among its color-coded four-tier typhoon warning systems.
According to the China National Observatory, Fengshen is now expected to move northwest at around 25-30 km per hour and gradually strengthen along the way.
The gales affected by Fengshen will affect parts of the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the East China Sea on Monday, as well as the coastal areas of China’s Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong provinces.
Heavy rainfall is expected in Taiwan in particular, with some areas forecast to receive 100 to 200 millimeters of rain.
However, on Tuesday, Fengshen will move southwest over the northern parts of the South China Sea and head towards Vietnam before gradually weakening.
