The 10th tropical storm to hit China this year is expected to land in southern coastal regions between Thursday evening and midday Friday, the country's meteorological authorities warned Wednesday.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) National Meteorological Center said the storm, which formed in the South China Sea Wednesday, was moving westward with wind speeds of 10 to 15 kilometers an hour at its eye.

It was expected to gain strength and become more powerful before landing at the east of Guangdong Province and the south of Fujian Province, said the meteorological center.

The CMA has launched a level IV emergency response plan, the lowest in China's four-grade emergency response system. It requires ships to be recalled to port, and warnings for people to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2010)