BEIJING, China
A super-typhoon named "Chan-Hom" is approaching China's eastern coast at high speeds, the country's meteorology center said Friday, upgrading its emergency status by two levels.
State news agency Xinhua reported that the typhoon was spotted 550 kilometers southeast of the coast of Zhejiang Province early Friday morning.
Since the alert level was raised, nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated and 20,000 fishing vessels called back to harbor.
The wind speed is expected to surpass 58 meters per second at landfall, the agency said.
"The upcoming typhoon seems very powerful. We have sealed all our windows and doors and have stored food," a villager named Liu Yimin told Xinhua.
Shanghai also reportedly released a typhoon alert Friday, warning citizens of heavy rain on Saturday.
