Typhoon Rusa, the 15th typhoon of this year, will hit the East China Sea Thursday night, according to the latest forecast from China's Central Meteorological Station.

Originating in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, Rusa began as a tropical storm and developed into a typhoon Sunday. By about 5 p.m.Thursday, Rusa had entered the sea south of Japan's Kyushu.

The typhoon is forecast to move northwest at about 20 kilometers per hour, and then sheer off to the north after entering the East China Sea Thursday night.

According to the forecast, from Thursday night to Friday, most of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea will suffer moderate to full gales. Surface winds near the typhoon center may reach storm or hurricane force.

Coastal areas of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong as well as the estuary region of the Yangtze River will also suffer gales.

(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2002)