East China province upgrades emergency response level for typhoon Co-May

HANGZHOU, July 29 (Xinhua) -- East China's coastal province of Zhejiang upgraded the emergency response level for Typhoon Co-May from IV to III at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the provincial emergency management department.

Local departments across the province will strictly implement the early warning response mechanism, strengthen patrols and hazard inspections, prevent floods and geological disasters, and relocate residents from dangerous places.

The center of Typhoon Co-May, the eighth typhoon of this year, was located approximately 370 kilometers southeast of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang, at noon of Tuesday. It is moving northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, while gaining strength. It is expected to make landfall on the coastal areas between Zhejiang and neighboring Jiangsu Province, on Wednesday during the daytime.

Affected by the typhoon, heavy rain and torrential rain are expected to hit many parts of Zhejiang from Tuesday to Wednesday. Currently, the Zhejiang provincial meteorological observatory has launched an offshore alert for typhoon. ■