China issues yellow alert for Typhoon Kalmaegi, ferry sinks in Phillippines
China’s marine forecast station issued a yellow alert as typhoon Kalmaegi, packing winds of up to 126 kmh, is expected to enter the South China Sea on Monday morning.
Kalmaegi is now moving toward the northern Philippines from the country’s east coastreported Xinhua.
It is forecast to land at the northern Philippines island of Luzon around Sunday evening and will continue to approach the southern coast of China on Monday morning, according to China’s state marine forecast station.
The typhoon could create waves up to seven metres high in the eastern part of the South China Sea and the Bashi Channel between Sunday noon and Monday noon, according to the forecast.
China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
The station warned ships operating in the waters and urged local governments and personnel to take measures against waves.
Ferry sinks in the Phillipines
Meanwhile, AFP reported that three people were killed as rescuers searched for at least three others still missing with more than a hundred rescued after a ferry sank in waters off the central Philippines on Saturday.
The vessel was hit by huge waves during bad weather worsened by the approach of Typhoon Kalmaegi to the northern Philippines, civil defence officials said.
At least 110 people have been rescued after the sinking of the Maharlika II ferry on Saturday night, said President Benigno Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte.
Valte said rescue boats were still searching for survivors at the scene of the sinking, about six nautical miles from the small island of Panaon, or about 680 km south of Manila.
Source: Xinhua, AFP
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