As Typhoon Wipha approaches, fishing vessels operating in waters off Guangdong province have been required to withdraw to designated fishing ban areas in the South China Sea by Friday evening, according to local flood control authorities.

Typhoon Wipha is the sixth typhoon of the year. It is expected to move into the northern South China Sea on Saturday morning and gradually approach the coastal areas from central Guangdong to the eastern part of Hainan province, according to the National Meteorological Center.

Heavy to torrential rainfall is expected in some areas of Guangzhou, the Guangdong capital.

By noon on Saturday, all fishing vessels operating in Guangdong are required to return to the nearest port for shelter from the wind, and cross-sea routes and coastal tourist attractions are to close in a timely manner, according to the province's flood control, drought relief, and wind defense authorities.

Additionally, railway operators have planned to initiate emergency response measures for flood control and typhoon prevention on high-speed railway lines along coastal areas.

The measures include speed restrictions or suspension of certain trains on some railway lines, which will be implemented on Saturday, according to the China Railway Guangzhou Group.

As a result, some trains at the Guangzhou South, Guangzhou Baiyun, Zhuhai, Zhanjiang West, and Maoming stations are expected to experience varying degrees of delay.