East China province braces for approaching Typhoon Matmo

FUZHOU - Fujian Province on east China coast on Tuesday braced for a powerful typhoon heading for its coast by closing all sea resorts and outdoor construction.

The provincial meteorological center forecast at 5 am that Typhoon Matmo, the 10th typhoon to affect China this year, is expected to hit Taiwan Island Wednesday night before making a landfall in Fujian.

The typhoon was monitored on sea 560 km away from Fujian's southeastern coast Tuesday morning. It is still gathering its power as it is moving at a speed of 20-25 km per hour packing up winds of 40 meters per second in its eye.

Due to its effect, parts of the province were forecast to have downpours on Tuesday.

The provincial flood control headquarters ordered reinforced patrols along coastal and river embankments and early relocation of fishermen and farmers and slum-dwellers living in flood-prone places.