HAIKOU - South China's Hainan Province initiated an emergency response on Sunday as Typhoon Krosa approaches the east of the island province.

Fishing boats are seen moored at a harbor in Qionghai city, South China's Hainan provicne, Oct 2. [Photo/CFP]

The National Meteorological Center has issued a yellow alert for the typhoon, the second tier in the country's four-color weather warning system.

Krosa, the 29th typhoon to hit China this year, weakened from a strong typhoon to a typhoon at 1 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Hainan provincial meteorological station.

The center of Krosa was located 470 kilometers northeast of Hainan's Wanning City at 10 am.

It will move southwestward at a speed of 10 to 15 km per hour towards Hainan as its force slowly weakens, said the meteorological station.

The northern, middle and western parts of the South China Sea are expected to see severe gales from Sunday noon until midday Monday. The typhoon will also bring strong winds and storms to coastal areas in south China's Guangdong Province, it predicted.

Local governments in the provinces should take precautions while ships in the area should return to ports, the meteorological station said.