GUANGZHOU: The Guangdong meteorological authority yesterday issued a Level I emergency warning for Typhoon Hagupit in response to forecasts it is about to hit the southern province.

Hagupit, the 14th typhoon of the year, will gain strength as it moves toward the coast of Guangdong and may make landfall between the city of Yangjiang and Xuwen county before noon today, Xue Dengzhi, a forecaster with the provincial weather bureau, said.

As of 2 pm yesterday, the eye of the typhoon was located about 530 km out to sea and was gale force 15, he said.