Society

Tropical storm nears S China, Qiongzhou Strait closed to traffic

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-21 17:22

HAIKOU - The Qiongzhou Strait between the Chinese mainland and Hainan island was closed Wednesday as tropical storm Chanthu headed towards south China, said local maritime authorities.

Related readings:  Tropical storm Chanthu may make landfall in?S China  Conson weakens into tropical storm; rains forecast

The strait was closed to shipping at 10 am, said a spokesperson with the Haikou Maritime Bureau.

Chanthu, which was 280 km southeast of the island at 8 am, was moving northwestward at a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour, according to Hainan Provincial Meteorological Center.

It is expected to land between Guangdong's coastal city of Yangjiang and Hainan's Qionghai City sometime Thursday, according to the center.

Hainan's Haikou Maritime Bureau made the decision to close the strait after consulting Guangdong's Xuwen Maritime Office.