Hainan Province is taking measures to deal with typhoon Megi, which is expected to hit southern China this weekend, and cause significant damage.

?People place wooden piles to consolidate the dyke of Zhuli reservoir in Lingshui, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 18, 2010. [Xinhua/Guo Cheng]

Hainan, Guangdong and Fujian provinces are on high alert for the most severe storm of the typhoon season. The National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued an alert for Hainan Wednesday morning.

It is located 840 kilometers southeast of Dianbai in Guangdong Province, packing high winds.

"Megi will not hit Hainan Province directly but will deliver heavy rain and strong winds," Shi Shengdong, a media spokesman, told the Global Times Wednesday.

Forecasters said Megi is likely to make landfall on the west coast of Guangdong around tomorrow or Saturday. Hainan will see heavy periods of rain with strong winds in the north and east.

Authorities have taken measures to protect reservoirs and the infrastructure. All fishing boats were ordered to return to harbor before midnight Tuesday and placed reservoirs and hydro-stations on alert.

"We have inspected 1,127 reservoirs and established a mechanism to deal with any possible emergency," Shi said.

Authorities had prepared 120 rescue vehicles and 78 inflatable boats, the provincial arm of the People's Armed Police said.

Local authorities evacuated at least 140,000 people. The total number of evacuated residents including people affected by the last two rounds of heavy rains reached 330,000.

Fearing the possible disruption of daily life and possible price hikes, Haikou residents started stocking up on goods this week. "Food and vegetables have been sent in from other cities to ensure the supply and stable prices," Shi added.

After Megi passes, if houses are not destroyed, residents will be allowed to return.

In Longtan township in Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, more than 1,000 people will be evacuated from low-lying areas and decrepit houses today. Food and water will be taken to every settlement sites.

Train service between Hainan and other provinces have been put back into service.