Eastern seaboard provinces hunker down to ride out typhoon

As Typhoon Bavi barrels toward east China, thousands of fishing boats and cargo vessels have returned to safe harbors in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces ahead of its expected landfall Saturday night.

In Ningde City, Fujian Province, over 34,000 vessels of all types have returned to port, while around 11,000 marine aquaculture workers have also come ashore by noon on Friday.

Meanwhile, waves at sea were exceptionally high in Shitang Town -- the easternmost township of Wenling City, Zhejiang Province -- which is historically among the first areas to experience direct impacts of landfalling typhoons.

The breakwater there, which stands about four meters high, has been topped by waves in some places. Many local residents have already begun typhoon preparations, including sealing doors and windows. More than a thousand fishing boats have been orderly moored in fishing ports.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management on Friday activated a Level III geological disaster emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian, as Typhoon Bavi drives heavy rains into the region. The ministry warned that southern Zhejiang and northeastern Fujian will face sustained downpours from Friday through Monday, with some areas likely to be hit by extremely heavy rainfall.

China's national observatory on Friday renewed its orange alert for Typhoon Bavi, warning of sustained heavy rains and strong winds. The storm is tracking northwest at 15-20 kilomerters per hour and is expected to make landfall Saturday night along the coast between Xiapu in Fujian and Wenling in Zhejiang, before gradually weakening inland.