HAIKOU - Typhoon Higos is expected to bring torrential downpours to regions in southern China in the following days.

The emergency management department of Hainan has issued a typhoon alert, warning that fishing boats and other vessels should return to harbors

A tropical depression in the northeast of the South China Sea intensified into a typhoon at around 8 am Tuesday, according to the meteorological department of Hainan province.

Typhoon Higos, the seventh typhoon of the year, was about 530 km east of the city of Wuchuan, Guangdong province, at 2 pm Tuesday. It is expected to make landfall in the western coastal part of Guangdong on Wednesday.

Provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region will have torrential rains starting from Wednesday, the meteorological department said.

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The emergency management department of Hainan has issued a typhoon alert, warning that fishing boats and other vessels should return to harbors.

Hainan has ordered the suspension of all ferry services in the Qiongzhou Strait starting 7 pm Tuesday, while train services into and out of the tropical island will also be suspended, the Hainan maritime safety administration said.

Meteorologists also alerted relevant areas to take preventive measures and guard against secondary disasters. Tourists are advised not to go out when heavy rain and gales hit the areas.

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