As southeast China prepares for Talim, a second storm is brewing

Fujian has activated its emergency response plan as it braces for what could be the largest typhoon to hit China’s southeast coast this year – and with another tropical depression brewing in the region.

The provincial weather bureau issued an alert on Tuesday, the official Fuzhou Daily reported, as hundreds of thousands of residents were expected to be evacuated from coastal areas before the typhoon makes landfall later on Thursday evening or Friday morning.

With wind speeds that could reach more than 220km/h – equivalent to the category 4 Hurricane Irma in the United States – Talim could be the strongest typhoon seen in the region this year, the weather bureau said.

At 3pm, Talim was less than 800km from northern Taiwan and heading towards mainland China’s coastline at more than 25km/h. It is expected to make landfall in northern Fujian or southern Zhejiang.

Taiwanese weather authorities said on Tuesday that the eye of the storm was likely to skirt the north of the island, the Central News Agency reported. But the authorities warned that the severe weather could cause big waves, threatening vessels in waters off Taiwan.