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Tropical storm 'Molave' nears SE China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-17 15:28

FUZHOU: Molave, the sixth tropical storm this year, is moving towards the coast with a landfall predicted between the center of China's Guangdong Province and the south of Fujian Province, the provincial weather bureau reported Friday.

Until 8:00 am Friday, the center of the storm was at 480 km southeast of Hengchun, Taiwan, and is forecasted to move northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour.

Related readings: Tropical storm Soudelor lands in south China Tropical storm Nangka makes landfall in Guangdong Taiwan braces for second storm

The storm will enter the north region of the South China Sea Saturday and will unleash rainstorms in the province during the upcoming weekend,  the weather bureau said.

Molave, which was formed as a tropical depression in the sea to the east of Philippines, gained momentum to become a tropical storm at 8:00 pm Thursday.

The provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Department forecast that the storm may possibly become a typhoon and urged that residents in its path be moved and fishing boats avoid the storm's route.