China’s southern coastal provinces have stepped up preparations as Typhoon Tapah, the 16th of the year, has formed, prompting the suspensions of shipping routes and heightened monitoring measures. The island province of Hainan issued a Level IV typhoon warning at 08:00 on Sunday. At 07:00 on Sunday, the center of Typhoon Tapah was located over the South China Sea, approximately 445 kilometers southeast of Dianbai District of Maoming City, Guangdong Province, packing maximum winds of 23 meters per second near its center, the Hainan provincial meteorological observatory said. Typhoon Tapah is forecast to move northwestward at a speed of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour while gradually intensifying. It was expected to approach the coastal areas of central and western Guangdong and make landfall between the cities of Zhuhai and Zhanjiang from early Sunday morning to noon as a severe tropical storm or typhoon. Its intensity will gradually weaken after landfall, according to meteorological authorities. Affected by the typhoon, during daytime on Sunday, the Qiongzhou Strait and Beibu Gulf will experience easterly winds of force five with gusts reaching force seven to eight during thunderstorms. Wind forces in the eastern sea areas of Hainan Island will gradually increase to force seven to nine, with gusts reaching force 10 to 11. Sea areas near the Xisha and Zhongsha Islands will experience strengthening wind forces, reaching force six to eight with gusts of force eight to 10. In Haikou, capital of Hainan, the transportation and port authorities announced that three key ports facilitating cross-Strait transportation would suspend operations from 14:00 Sunday. Services are expected to remain halted until Tuesday morning. In Guangdong, the provincial flood control, drought relief and wind prevention headquarters upgraded its typhoon emergency response to Level III at 23:00 on Saturday. It has instructed local departments to intensify maritime and onshore safety measures and ensure public protection. The provincial maritime administration followed with a Level II emergency response for tropical cyclones at 08:00 Sunday. As of 11:00 Sunday, 30 passenger ferry routes in the province have been suspended. The maritime authority in neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region activated a Level IV typhoon emergency response at 09:00 Sunday, directing local departments to closely monitor the storm’s progress and carry out precautionary measures. Maritime and inland river bureaus in cities of Beihai, Qinzhou, Fangchenggang, Guigang, and Wuzhou were ordered to track the typhoon closely, issue timely alerts, and advise vessels, shipping companies, and construction units to implement preventive measures. Authorities there have reinforced duty shifts, increased inspections both on-site and electronically, and launched safety checks to identify typhoon-related risks. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response. Shotlist: Guangdong Province, south China - Sept 7, 2025: 1. Ferries at port; 2. Various of maritime administration staff on ship; 3. Car driving onto ferry; 4. Passengers disembarking ferry; 5. Staff checking truck; 6. Screen showing ship suspension notice at ferry terminal; 7. Aerial shot of ferries at port; 8. Various of passengers at ferry terminal; 9. Ships sailing; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China - Sept 7, 2025 10. Aerial shots of ships at port; 11. Various of maritime administration staff checking facilities on ship, talking with sailor; 12. Aerial shot of ships at port; 13. Aerial shot of ships sailing. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]