The southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Hainan are bracing themselves, ahead of Typhoon Chanthu's expected landfall Thursday. Guangdong meteorological authorities, have launched the highest level of disaster response.

Chanthu, the third tropical storm of the season, is forecast to move northwest.. at a speed of 15 kilometers an hour. The Qiongzhou Strait, between the mainland and Hainan island, has been closed to shipping, since Wednesday morning.

Hainan Province, also called, back to port, more than 26 thousand fishing boats. The typhoon is expected to bring gales and heavy rains to south and eastern coastal areas of China, including Hainan, Guangdong and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Thursday. Coastal areas in Guangdong are likely to be worst affected.