South China stays on alert for typhoon Mujigae

China is still on alert for Mujigae and heavy rain one day after the typhoon made landfall in South China and caused tremendous havoc.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) on Monday morning issued blue warnings for the typhoon and heavy downpour.

At 5 a.m., Mujigae, the 22nd typhoon of the year, was in Nanning of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, packing winds of up to 20 meters per second, the NMC said. It is forecast to move northwest at a speed of up to 20 km per hour, with diminishing strength.

From Monday to Tuesday, heavy rain is expected to lash parts of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan and Guizhou. Precipitation will reach up to 180 mm in the northeastern part of Guangxi.

Heavy rain in the southeastern part of Yunnan raised fears of flood and geological hazards, the provincial meteorological department said, warning residents in mountainous areas against flood and mud-rock flow.

Mujigae landed on Guangdong on Sunday afternoon, killing at least four people and causing widespread blackouts. Tornadoes were observed in Shunde of Foshan City. Mujigae reached Guangxi last night.

As the typhoon coincides with the week-long National Day holiday, many tourists heading for Guangdong and Guangxi will have to change their plans.

Guangdong has called off sightseeing and leisure activities at sea, such as fishing. Guangxi shut down some popular attractions, including Weizhou Island, a large volcanic island which often draws tens of thousands of tourists in holidays.

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