Typhoon Khanun, the No. 15 strong tropical storm of this year, is expected to hit the central-northern parts of Fujian Province Sunday afternoon, according to weather forecasts.

Typhoon Khanun is approaching the province at a speed of 15 km per hour from the eastern sea region off Taiwan, and the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters has urged all-out efforts to make preparations.

Typhoon Khanun has so far reached force 12 which is likely to further strengthen and will bring along heavy precipitation to the province, said the provincial weather station.

Liang Qiping, deputy governor of the province, urged officials in the province to work hard to mobilize the local people in making preparations to fight the upcoming typhoon.

The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters has asked all the ships and vessels operating on the sea nearby to return or take shelters in ports before 18:00 Saturday and all the personnel working at the offshore breading fields to get onshore.

The headquarters also urged the people in mountainous areas to prepare against possible mountain torrents, mud-rock flows and geological disasters
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(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2005)