Fishing boats from Zhoushan city, Zhejiang Province return to the port on August 31, 2022 to avoid the Super Typhoon Hinnamnor. Photo: VCG

Hinnamnor, the 11th typhoon this year, has intensified to a super typhoon and is rapidly approaching the East China Sea. It is expected to move into the southeastern part of the East China Sea on Saturday evening and the Ministry of Emergency Management on Wednesday called for coastal regions to get fully prepared in order to contain possible risks.

It is expected that waves near the shore in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangsu provinces and Shanghai will reach five meters high, and the impact process is expected to be long and cover a wide range, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources on Wednesday.

The national emergency management authorities held a virtual meeting on Wednesday with authorities of eight coastal provinces and regions including East China's Zhejiang and Fujian provinces emphasizing the importance of preparatory work and prioritizing people's safety.

The typhoon is likely to maintain its super-strong level for a long time, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management, which said its later development is complicated and the movement path is uncertain. The risk of damage from the storm and flooding could be severe.

Coastal regions should pay close attention to the typhoon, and organize for fishing vessels and merchant ships in the areas affected to take precautionary measures in advance, said the authorities. Also, offshore platform staff should be evacuated in time.

The national oceanic forecasting service on Wednesday afternoon issued a blue alert for sea waves - with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue - and reminded nearby vessels to be cautious and to take precautionary measures.

Zhejiang on Wednesday launched a Level-IV emergency response for Hinnamnor. It is expected that there will be a huge storm in the coastal regions of Zhejiang from Thursday to September 6, with the waves reaching from 6 to 9 meters high, according to the local authorities.

Zhejiang has strengthened management over vessels on the seas to ensure they get back to port to avoid the typhoon, and to evacuate related personnel in time. Costal tourist attractions will also be closed and strengthened patrols in these regions will be carried out, said the local authorities.