The sea level off the coast of Guangdong province reached the third-highest level on record last year, raising concerns about increased impact from typhoons, coastal erosion and salt tides.

The level was 105 millimeters higher than the average between 1975 and 1993, though it dipped by 10 mm year-on-year, according to a report on oceanic disasters last year released by Guangdong's Administration of Ocean and Fisheries.

The level rose by an average of 3.4 mm per year between 1980 and last year, higher than the 3 mm figure for the rest of the nation's coasts and above the national average.