China prepares for Typhoon Megi

Photo taken on Sept. 26, 2016 shows the sunset view of above the Minjiang River in Fuzhou, China's southeast Fujian Province. The Typhoon Megi will make landfall in the coast between Fujian and Guangdong early on Wednesday morning, according to the meteorological department. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei)

Authorities in southeast China have ordered all fishing boats to return to port and fish farm employees to go ashore ahead of Typhoon Megi.

The typhoon, the 17th of this year, is expected to make landfall somewhere from northern Guangdong Province to southern Fujian Province Wednesday morning, according to the meteorological authority.

Typhoon Megi was 850 km southeast of Xiamen City in Fujian, packing winds of up to 166 km per hour and moving at 20 km per hour.

It is forecast to bring heavy rain and gales to the regions.

In Fujian, as much as 400 mm of rainfall is expected in some regions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All fishing boats and fish farm employees have been ordered to return to shore by Monday evening.

Meanwhile, all fishing boats and fish farm employees east of the Pearl River estuary in neighboring Guangdong have been ordered to return to land by 8 p.m. Monday.

Authorities in Guangdong decided to close tourist destinations and activities for the next two days.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters activated a level III emergency response on Monday for the typhoon, and dispatched work teams to the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hunan to prepare aid and relief.